Labour MP questions campaigning roles of publicly funded advisers

As the start of the long campaign begins today, curbing the amount of money parties can spend between now and May 7th, Labour MP Jon Ashworth has sought to clarify what precautions are being taken to ensure publicly-funded government advisers are not using their time campaigning.

Ashworth has sent a letter to senior civil servant Jeremy Heywood, asking him to answer a number of questions about what kind of campaigning activity was permitted and undertaken by special advisers (SpAds) in the recent Rochester and Strood by-election. He says it is “essential” these questions are now answered, given we are entering the pre-election period, with its spending limits for parties.

Earlier this week, it emerged that the Conservatives had raised the amount that could be spent on a general election campaign by £6 million.

You can read the full letter below:

Today as the election expenses limits kick in, it is more important than ever that the public have confidence in the Government’s use of public resources for political campaigning.

I am therefore writing to seek clarification given to Special Advisers over their role in by-election campaigns. 

The public will want clarity over whether highly paid Advisers, whose wage bill we see is growing faster than other public sector workers, have been actively advised to breach important codes of conduct, which clearly ensure public funds are not used for political activity, whether by your office or the Conservative Party.

It is essential you now answer the following questions:

• What advice was issued by your office or the Conservative Party to the Special Advisers about their permitted campaigning activity during the Rochester and Strood by-election, and will you publish this? 

• Do you consider telephone campaigning in a by-election as being in line with the Special Advisers’ Code of Conduct? 

• What role did the Prime Minister’s Political Private Secretary have in overseeing Special Advisers’ campaigning activity?

• How many Special Advisers did campaign during the Rochester and Strood by-election, what specifically did they do, and what assessment have you personally made as to whether their actions were in line with the Special Advisers’ Code of Conduct? 

• How many Special Advisers in total refused to campaign in the Rochester and Strood by-election?

• What discussions did you or other civil servants within No10 have with Special Advisers regarding permitted campaigning during the Rochester and Strood by-election? 

Many will suspect that personal political positioning is at the heart of this row, which in fact centres on proper use of taxpayers’ money. It is essential, therefore, that in answering the above questions you are specific about the Secretaries of State and Ministers for whom the Special Advisers who did and did not campaign in Rochester and Strood work for.

Yours sincerely, 

Jon Ashworth MP