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New research by Civil Service World has revealed that the vast majority of coalition government special advisers used to work directly for a political party or for an MP.
CSW's investigationrevealed that 89 per cent of coalition spads have worked in their party HQ or an MP.
"The recruitment of spads directly from party jobs – mainly in media relations – makes a striking contrast with Labour's spads: in 2009, just 37 per cent of spads had previously worked in the party HQ, for an MP or as a spad for another minister, with many coming from charities, unions, journalism and council jobs.
"About 14 per cent of Labour spads had worked for trade unions affiliated to the Labour party, though there is some overlap with the 37 per cent figure.
"Within the coalition, every one of the Liberal Democrat special advisers has worked for their party or an MP, while 86 per cent of Conservatives have the same experience.
"Where coalition special advisers have experience outside party politics, it is often in professions closely connected to Westminster: 11 per cent have worked in lobbying, and 19 per cent have worked for think-tanks.
"Among Labour’s spads, these figures are similar: nine per cent had worked in lobbying, and 20 per cent in think tanks."
CSW, which is owned by ePolitix.com's parent company Dods, has also profiled more than 60 spadsfrom every Whitehall department.
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