Spads to reach all-time high

The number of special advisers (or ‘spads’) working for the coalition government will soon reach an all-time high, research by University College London’s Constitution Unit has revealed.

There are now 85 special advisers and, according to Dr Ben Yong from the Constitution Unit, this is likely to hit an all-time high of 90 because spads in health, the Commons and DCMS have not been listed.