Nick Clegg appointing seven special advisers to bolster Whitehall links

Sunday newspapers reported yesterday that Clegg is bringing in the special advisers to work across Conservative-led Whitehall departments. They will each earn around £68,000.

Clegg’s head of comms James Sorene failed to respond when contacted for details by PRWeek last week.

Reports suggest that three aides have already been appointed, but their identities are not yet known.

PRWeek understands that the special advisers will ‘double up’ in overseeing Whitehall departments.

One of the new advisers will monitor the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, reportedly to the displeasure of Home Secretary Theresa May.

A Whitehall source told The Sunday Times: ‘Theresa has made it pretty clear she’s not happy about a Lib Dem being given access to everything that crosses her desk. She’ll have a Lib Dem special adviser based in her department and she’s not keen on the idea.

‘However, Nick [Clegg] has argued that the Lib Dems need to be bolstered in some departments. He doesn’t think they have enough clout.’

This article was first published on prweek.com