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| Osborne gives image adviser 42% rise amid public-sector pay freeze | |
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| George Osborne has given the special adviser responsible for his new image a pay rise of more than 40% and employed an additional seven political aides while asking public-sector workers to accept a pay freeze. | George Osborne has given the special adviser responsible for his new image a pay rise of more than 40% and employed an additional seven political aides while asking public-sector workers to accept a pay freeze. |
| The disclosure comes in data that shows the bill for special advisers across government has risen to £9.2m in 2014-2015, up from £8.4m over the previous year. | The disclosure comes in data that shows the bill for special advisers across government has risen to £9.2m in 2014-2015, up from £8.4m over the previous year. |
| In July, the chancellor told thousands of teachers, nurses, police, firefighters and civil servants that they would face another four-year pay freeze at 1% a year, as part of planned savings worth £17bn. Many more jobs are also set to be lost across the public sector. | In July, the chancellor told thousands of teachers, nurses, police, firefighters and civil servants that they would face another four-year pay freeze at 1% a year, as part of planned savings worth £17bn. Many more jobs are also set to be lost across the public sector. |
| The increasing use of public money to fund the chancellor’s office, where he now has 10 advisers, will anger many public-sector workers. The increase in money spent on special advisers is especially embarrassing for David Cameron because of previous pledges to cut the cost of government and the number of special advisers. | The increasing use of public money to fund the chancellor’s office, where he now has 10 advisers, will anger many public-sector workers. The increase in money spent on special advisers is especially embarrassing for David Cameron because of previous pledges to cut the cost of government and the number of special advisers. |
| Thea Rogers, a close associate of Osborne, has received the biggest rise among all special advisers across government, with a pay increase of 42%, giving her £98,000. A former BBC producer who once worked with the corporation’s former political editor Nick Robinson, she is said to have been responsible for Osborne’s Caesar-style haircut and for placing him on the 5:2 diet. She has been re-employed since last year as Osborne’s chief of staff. | Thea Rogers, a close associate of Osborne, has received the biggest rise among all special advisers across government, with a pay increase of 42%, giving her £98,000. A former BBC producer who once worked with the corporation’s former political editor Nick Robinson, she is said to have been responsible for Osborne’s Caesar-style haircut and for placing him on the 5:2 diet. She has been re-employed since last year as Osborne’s chief of staff. |
| James Chapman, the Daily Mail’s former political editor, has been employed this year by Osborne on £125,000, while another Osborne adviser, Sue Beeby, is being paid £73,000 to be part of his Treasury team. Osborne has three other people employed in his office whose pay levels are not registered. | James Chapman, the Daily Mail’s former political editor, has been employed this year by Osborne on £125,000, while another Osborne adviser, Sue Beeby, is being paid £73,000 to be part of his Treasury team. Osborne has three other people employed in his office whose pay levels are not registered. |
| A footnote to the data shows that the chancellor has taken on three other politically employed advisers who sit on the council of economic advisers – Richard Davies, who is paid £98,000, Neil O’Brien, who is paid £93,450, and Jennifer Donne, whose pay is not registered. Another adviser to Osborne, Eleanor Wolfson, is currently on maternity leave, the footnote adds. | A footnote to the data shows that the chancellor has taken on three other politically employed advisers who sit on the council of economic advisers – Richard Davies, who is paid £98,000, Neil O’Brien, who is paid £93,450, and Jennifer Donne, whose pay is not registered. Another adviser to Osborne, Eleanor Wolfson, is currently on maternity leave, the footnote adds. |
| The increase in money spent on Osborne’s office will be seen as further evidence that he is seeking to increase his influence across Whitehall. Senior Tories believe he wishes to exert his influence as he seeks follow Cameron into the job of prime minister. | The increase in money spent on Osborne’s office will be seen as further evidence that he is seeking to increase his influence across Whitehall. Senior Tories believe he wishes to exert his influence as he seeks follow Cameron into the job of prime minister. |
| The data shows that Cameron has 32 advisers – six more than in November last year. Twenty-three are paid more than £63,000 a year. Topping the list are his head of communications, Craig Oliver, and chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn, who both earn £140,000. | The data shows that Cameron has 32 advisers – six more than in November last year. Twenty-three are paid more than £63,000 a year. Topping the list are his head of communications, Craig Oliver, and chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn, who both earn £140,000. |
| A string of special advisers across all government departments have had above inflation pay increases over the last year. | A string of special advisers across all government departments have had above inflation pay increases over the last year. |
| They include Ameet Gill, an adviser to Cameron, who is now being paid £98,000 - an increase of 22%; Nick Seddon, another Cameron adviser is being paid £88,000, an increase of 12%; and Graham Hook, an adviser to the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, who is paid £70,000, an increase of 7.7%. | They include Ameet Gill, an adviser to Cameron, who is now being paid £98,000 - an increase of 22%; Nick Seddon, another Cameron adviser is being paid £88,000, an increase of 12%; and Graham Hook, an adviser to the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, who is paid £70,000, an increase of 7.7%. |
| The number of “spads” in the highest pay grade of PB4 has jumped from 4 to 10. The number in the next highest paygrade, PB3, has grown from 15 to 26. | The number of “spads” in the highest pay grade of PB4 has jumped from 4 to 10. The number in the next highest paygrade, PB3, has grown from 15 to 26. |
| Last November the government announced that the cost of its special advisers had passed £8m – a rise of more than £1m over a 12-month period. | Last November the government announced that the cost of its special advisers had passed £8m – a rise of more than £1m over a 12-month period. |
| At the beginning of this year there were just over 100 spads. During the last months of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, a total of 26 special advisers worked for Cameron in Downing Street, with 20 working for the former Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg. | At the beginning of this year there were just over 100 spads. During the last months of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, a total of 26 special advisers worked for Cameron in Downing Street, with 20 working for the former Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg. |
| Although the number of advisers necessary for the two-party coalition was expected to fall following the Conservatives’ return to government as a majority single party, there had been no financial information given out until now. | Although the number of advisers necessary for the two-party coalition was expected to fall following the Conservatives’ return to government as a majority single party, there had been no financial information given out until now. |
| Under Gordon Brown in 2009-2010 the cost of special advisers was said to be £6.8m, and there were 71 advisers on the government payroll. | Under Gordon Brown in 2009-2010 the cost of special advisers was said to be £6.8m, and there were 71 advisers on the government payroll. |
| The document covering special advisers was released as part of a “data dump” by the government on the final day of parliament before recess. More than 380 documents were released by the government on a single day. | The document covering special advisers was released as part of a “data dump” by the government on the final day of parliament before recess. More than 380 documents were released by the government on a single day. |
| Another document showed that the chancellor spent £11,000 taking Royal Air Force planes to meetings in Europe and Turkey between July and September, and a further £10,000 chartering a plane to China. | Another document showed that the chancellor spent £11,000 taking Royal Air Force planes to meetings in Europe and Turkey between July and September, and a further £10,000 chartering a plane to China. |
| Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, said: “David Cameron can’t bury the fact that he’s broken a direct promise he made to reduce the cost of politics and curb the number of special advisers in government.” | Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, said: “David Cameron can’t bury the fact that he’s broken a direct promise he made to reduce the cost of politics and curb the number of special advisers in government.” |
| A Downing Street spokesman said he was not aware of any plans to reduce the number of special advisers further. | A Downing Street spokesman said he was not aware of any plans to reduce the number of special advisers further. |
| “Special advisers provide an important role and it is important that they are there,” said the spokesman. “By providing political advice to ministers, they allow the important distinction to remain between impartial civil servants and special advisers who provide political advice.” | “Special advisers provide an important role and it is important that they are there,” said the spokesman. “By providing political advice to ministers, they allow the important distinction to remain between impartial civil servants and special advisers who provide political advice.” |
| Asked whether Cameron was happy that his government employed more than 25% more special advisers than Gordon Brown’s administration, the spokesman would say only that the number and overall cost of special advisers was lower than in the last year of the coalition government. | Asked whether Cameron was happy that his government employed more than 25% more special advisers than Gordon Brown’s administration, the spokesman would say only that the number and overall cost of special advisers was lower than in the last year of the coalition government. |