Guido hears crunch time is approaching for those special advisers who were retained from Starmer’s government. The majority of those who stayed in their jobs were given three-month probationary contracts. Burnham came in on 20th July – one month to go…
Sticking SpAds on probationary contracts is not entirely new practice for Labour. Starmer’s No10 did the same as soon as it entered power under famous SpAd-hater Sue Gray, who instituted four-month probation across the board…
Just prior to the change of government the FDA union, which represents some civil servants, signed a “formal recognition agreement for special advisers” who chose to unionise. The union said:
“In the two years since special advisers made the decision to unionise and choose FDA as their collective voice, significant milestones have been achieved. Three consolidated pay uplifts have been agreed, an independent view of pay was initiated and a new pay policy negotiated, and dozens of individual members have been advised and represented.”
Whether or not they can get union help, Starmer’s surviving SpAds will have to prove their worth to the new overlords. Or leave and plot revenge…
Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked John Healey: “Just finally, I mean Andy Burnham has been very clear he wants Britain back in the European Union in his lifetime. Do you?”
The Chancellor replied: “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”