Speculation is mounting in Labour circles that Jeremy Corbyn is to centrally assign political advisers (PAds) to his new Shadow Cabinet ministers, rather than let them appoint their own aides. Previously, PAds were recruited by the Shadow Secretary of State and rubber-stamped by the leader. PAds’ contracts are fixed to their minister staying in their job, so when their boss leaves they are out too. That means almost every Shadow Cabinet minister is now PAd-less. The rumour doing the rounds is that Corbyn is going to centrally appoint the new PAds, his own “Soviet-style” commissars according to one wag. Surely Jezza wouldn’t spend taxpayers’ Short money giving jobs to the boys from his campaign team?

UPDATE:

Labour spad texts to say #corbyn has internally confirmed with #labour colleagues he intends to centralise pads h/t @GuidoFawkes

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) September 16, 2015

Lab figure: advisors will be centralised and then allocated to shadow cab rather than shadow ministers being able to pick their own advisor

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) September 16, 2015