Richard Chew: We need to professionalise the Special Advisers

They’re an easy target for criticism, but SpAds make all the difference to the Government’s performance and the Party’s prospects.

This fair hearing for Blair cannot rehabilitate him

Jon Davis and John Rentoul’s new book contains valuable material, but cannot efface Iraq, or the former Prime Minister’s self-righteousness.

Iain Dale: Brexit Derangement Syndrome breaks out everywhere. Adonis, Bridgen – and now, alas, Boles. Everyone’s going bonkers.

Plus: Which of Hancock’s Slags should I liaise with? I’m not known as “Uncle Herod” for nothing. And: Here’s hoping 2019 is happier than 2018.

Andrew Goodfellow: The Conservative Research Department is as effective as ever – in a more complex and challenging world

Andrew Gimson’s article on this site yesterday was wrong about its condition. The quality of SpAds that it produces is still high.

The Rudd debacle highlights a problem. Many of the Government’s special advisers are no good.

Ministers like Amber Rudd have great difficulty finding able SpAds because the Conservative Research Department, which used to train them, has been destroyed.

Nick Faith: Five actions for new Secretaries of State as they get to grips with their new departments

Given Brexit, limited parliamentary time and a hung parliament, one priority is to demonstrate how leaving the EU will create specific opportunities for Britain.

To find out why people value WhatsApp encryption, Rudd should talk to her own colleagues

The Home Office has somewhat improved its position, but still seems to think the will of a minister can overcome the laws of mathematics.

Exclusive: The third candidate shortlisted in Aldershot is Chris Brannigan

The former Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards fought in Iraq, and is now the Prime Minister’s outreach director.

Andrew Snowden: We’ve made a good start reducing the cost of politics – here’s how to do even more

Now the number of MPs is being cut, why not cut the number of ministers? And SpAds? And local “Champions”?

Nick Timothy: Detailed analysis? Strategic planning? Not a bit of it. Let me tell you how a Spending Review really works

They ought to be an important opportunity for the Government to quicken the pace and improve the quality of reform.

SpAd code of conduct revised to permit what it didn’t permit but Conservative officials claimed it did permit

The new rules clarify when and how special advisers can engage in political activity, but come too late for those needlessly punished for the old system’s shortcomings.

Game of SpAds latest. Home Office – Nick Timothy leaves, Alex Dawson arrives

Let’s hope he’s soon back on the Candidates List from which he should never have been excluded.

Sheridan Westlake heads to Number 10

The long-serving adviser to Eric Pickles is to join the team at the heart of the Government.

The Party should apologise to Timothy and Parkinson – and put them both back on the Candidates’ List

The Public Administration Committee concludes that a key Party instruction to the two SpAds was in breach of the Code of Conduct that binds them.