On 12 June, Andrew Blick, of the Institute of Contemporary British History, gave oral evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee about the history of special advisers in government. He said that past attempts to distinguish between specialist and political advisers had failed, due to the degree of the overlap between these groups. Dr Blick explained that the limit of two special advisers per Cabinet Minister was brought in by Harold Wilson in 1974 to prevent Tony Benn from recruiting a third, who Wilson did not like. It has remained unchanged ever since.
Watch Andrew Blick give evidence to the: Public Administration Select Committee (begins at 1:03)
Read Andrew Blick's written evidence (for Democratic Audit)
