Tag Archives: special advisers

Opinion: ‘Nick Clegg in drive to boost Liberal Democrats’ influence’

By Paul Walter | Sun 23rd October 2011 - 6:23 pm

In March I wrote here on Liberal Democrat Voice about a report by the Institute for Government which recommended a series of measures to bolster LibDem influence within the government.

The report can be read in full here.

I’m delighted to say that there is evidence that this report’s recommendations are being acted upon.

The Telegraph today reports that seven new Liberal Democrat advisers are to be appointed across Whitehall, particularly concentrating on the Health department, the Home Office and other ministries without a lead LibDem cabinet minister.

According to the Sunday Times, three of these new advisers have already been …

The Independent View: Coalition Works! The inside story from the Constitution Unit

By Robert Hazell | Sun 5th June 2011 - 12:39 pm

The coalition is working well, but the Lib Dems could do better, is the overall message from the Constitution Unit’s first report on how the coalition works in Whitehall and Westminster. We are conducting a 12 month study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, with a research team of five, including two former senior civil servants, and one senior broadcaster. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have authorised access to all the key figures in Whitehall, and so far we have interviewed 90 ministers, special advisers, officials, parliamentarians, and external interest groups.

Everyone we interviewed in Whitehall says …