Transparency data

Special adviser data releases: numbers and costs, November 2024 (HTML)

Published 28 November 2024

Special Advisers 

Special advisers are a critical part of the team supporting ministers. They add a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to ministers while reinforcing the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support.

Special advisers should be fully integrated into the functioning of government. They are part of the team working closely alongside civil servants to deliver ministers’ priorities. They can help ministers on matters where the work of government and the work of the government party overlap and where it would be inappropriate for permanent civil servants to become involved. They are appointed to serve the Prime Minister and the Government as a whole, not just their appointing minister.

In accordance with section 16 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the Cabinet Office publishes an annual report containing the number and costs of special advisers. This information is presented below and can be read alongside the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024, which shall be published in due course.

The Cabinet Office also routinely publishes the names of all special advisers along with information on salaries and pay bands. In accordance with the approach taken by other government departments in balancing transparency with individuals’ right to privacy, the salaries of those special advisers earning equivalent to senior civil servants (£75,000 and above) are given in bands of £5,000.

The information provided in this report relates the 2023/24 financial year, which ran from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2024. As this period ended before the 2024 UK General Election, the special advisers included in this report are those of the previous administration, and information relates to and was collated prior to the election.

Number of Special Advisers 

As at 31 March 2024, there were 128 (125.85 full-time equivalent) special advisers working across Government. The total Civil Service had 543,475 (510,665 full-time equivalent) civil servants as at March 2024[footnote 1]. Special advisers represent 0.02 per cent of the Civil Service workforce (full time equivalent)[footnote 2]

Cost of Special Advisers 

The special adviser pay bill for the financial year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 was £14.4 million. This includes £0.3 million paid in severance payments to special advisers, and a pay award of 5.5% for special advisers in scope, in line with the headline award for the Senior Civil Service.

A special adviser’s appointment automatically ends when their appointing minister ceases to hold the ministerial office in relation to which the adviser was appointed to assist, or if earlier, immediately following a parliamentary general election. In accordance with paragraph 18 of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, a special adviser is entitled to receive a severance payment in these circumstances. Special advisers who are subsequently reappointed repay their severance as laid out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

The relative change in the cost of special advisers compared to 2022-23 reflects the reduction in severance costs, which were higher the previous year due to the changes of administration which took place in September and October 2022.

Category 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023
Salary Costs £10.0m £9.0m
National Insurance Contributions £1.3m £1.6m
Pension Contributions £2.7m £2.4m
Severance Costs £0.3m £2.9m
Total Pay Costs £14.4m £15.9m

Special Adviser Pay Policy 

The Cabinet Office is responsible for Special Adviser Pay Policy. There are four pay bands for special advisers as set out below.

Pay Band 1 Junior Special Adviser - £40,500 to £53,000

Pay Band 2 Special Adviser - £57,000 to £84,000

Pay Band 3 Senior Special Adviser - £73,000 to £102,000

Pay Band 4 Special Adviser Leadership - £102,000 to £145,000

Each role is individually assessed and assigned a band according to the level and scope of responsibility required. Whilst the default is for new appointees to be paid salaries at the base of the pay band, a higher starting salary within the relevant band may be awarded to reflect the skill-set and expertise that an individual brings to the role.

Thorough benchmarking exercises are regularly carried out across the cohort to ensure the pay policy is being applied fairly and consistently. Salaries may be reviewed where there has been a material change in responsibility, or where an individual has demonstrated increased experience and their pay has not otherwise changed in the preceding two years.

A probation period was introduced as standard for new special advisers in December 2023, during which time their suitability for the role will be assessed. If a special adviser fails to meet the expected standards of conduct, attendance or performance, then their employment may be terminated during the probation period.

Special Advisers’ Declarations of Interest 

As with all civil servants, special advisers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.

Special advisers declare interests to their Permanent Secretary in the appointing department for consideration, in line with the Declaration of Interests policy. The personal information which special advisers disclose to the Permanent Secretary is treated in confidence. All special advisers have submitted a completed declaration of interests form, including nil returns in instances where there was no actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest.

Where relevant to the role, and to help manage a perception of conflict or to explain how a conflict is being managed, interests will be published on an annual basis in, or alongside, the relevant departmental Annual Report and Accounts. This provides a balance between transparency and privacy.

The declared interests of all those employed in the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 have been considered for publication, including those who have since left their department.

List of Special Advisers

This list reflects the special advisers in post as of 31 March 2024, working across the whole of government.

Appointing Minister Special Adviser Pay Band Salary Band (if £75,000 or above)
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Liam Booth-Smith 4 £140,000 - £144,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Nerissa Chesterfield 4 £140,000 - £144,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Aidan Corley 4 £110,000 - £114,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Cass Horowitz 4 £110,000 - £114,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Jamie Njoku-Goodwin 4 £125,000 - £129,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Lucy Noakes 4 £110,000 - £114,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Franck Petitgas 4 £125,000 - £129,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Tim Pitt 4 £125,000 - £129,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Eleanor Shawcross[footnote 3] 4 £125,000 - £129,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Will Tanner 4 £140,000 - £144,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Rupert Yorke 4 £125,000 - £129,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Jack Airey 3 £75,000 - £79,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Beth Armstrong 3 £90,000 - £94,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Eden Barnes 3 £90,000 - £94,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP John Bew[footnote 4] 3 £100,000 - 104,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Luke Gardiner 3  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Andrew Gilligan 3 £95,000 - £99,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Dominique Heckels 3 £95,000 - £99,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Katharine Howell 3 £85,000 - £89,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Lisa Lovering[footnote 5] 3 £80,000 - £84,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Declan Lyons 3 £95,000 - £99,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Douglas McNeill 3 £95,000 - £99,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Bill Morgan 3 £90,000 - £94,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP James Nation 3 £100,000 - £104,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Rupert Oldham-Reid 3 £95,000 - £99,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Nick Park 3 £90,000 - £94,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Jean-Andre Prager 3 £75,000 - £79,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Jack Sellers 3 £90,000 - £94,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Rajiv Shah[footnote 6] 3 £75,000 - £79,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Myles Stacey 3  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Beatrice Timpson 3 £80,000 - £84,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Megan Trethewey 3  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Meera Vadher 3 £80,000 - £84,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Sheridan Westlake 3 £100,000 - £104,999
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Tom D’Silva 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Sophia Falkner 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Megan Harris 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Christopher James 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Olivia Leechman 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Jock McMillan 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Dan O’Neill[footnote 7] 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Innes Taylor 2  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Francesca Fraser 1  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Madeline Sibley 1  
The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union – The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Callum Tucker 1  
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, Deputy Prime Minister - The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Ed de Minckwitz 4 £110,000 - £114,999
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, Deputy Prime Minister - The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Leonora Campbell 3  
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, Deputy Prime Minister - The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Freddie Ellery 2  
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, Deputy Prime Minister - The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Eve Lugg 2  
Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP Adam Smith 4 £110,000 - £114,999
Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP Cameron Brown 3 £75,000 - £79,999
Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP Simon Finkelstein 2  
Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP Peter Lineen 2  
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs – The Rt Hon Lord Cameron Laurence Mann 4 £125,000 - £129,999
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs – The Rt Hon Lord Cameron Liz Sugg 4 £125,000 - £129,999
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs – The Rt Hon Lord Cameron Alan Sendorek 3 £90,000 - £94,999
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs – The Rt Hon Lord Cameron Daniel Cohen 1  
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Giles Dilnot 3 £90,000 - £94,999
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Hudson Roe 3 £95,000 - £99,999
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Peter Backhouse 2  
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Kayli Free 2  
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Brandon Hattiloney 2  
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Alice Hopkin 2  
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Callum Price 2  
Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP Joe Tetlow 2  
Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP James Aspden 2  
Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP James Clark 2  
Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Oliver Legard 2  
Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Robyn Staveley 2  
Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Dan Townend 2 £80,000 - £84,999
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP Rupert Cunningham 2  
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP Hannah Galley 2  
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP Sally Rushton 2  
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology – The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP Sam Hamilton 2  
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology – The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP Tom Skinner 2  
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology – The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP Laura Wright 2  
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations – The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Josh Grimstone 3 £80,000 - £84,999
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations – The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Andrew Hood 3 £100,000 - £104,999
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations – The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Henry Newman 3 £100,000 - £104,999
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations – The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Emily Maister 2  
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – The Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP Robert Ede 2  
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – The Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP Caroline Elsom 2  
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – The Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP Peter Wilson 2 £80,000 - £84,999
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – The Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP Fergus Cameron Watt 1  
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP Iain Carter 3 £100,000 - £104,999
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP Macer Hall 2 £80,000 - £84,999
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP Grace Hanson-Eden 2  
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP Adrian Holle 2  
Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons – The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP Ed Jankowski 2  
Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons – The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP Alex Read 2  
Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords – The Rt Hon Lord True CBE Annabelle Eyre 3 £85,000 - £89,999
Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords – The Rt Hon Lord True CBE Hannah Ellis 2  
Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords – The Rt Hon Lord True CBE Titus Duckworth 2  
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade, Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP Daniel El-Gamry 2  
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade, Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP Victoria Hewson 2 £80,000 - £84,999
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade, Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP James Roberts 2  
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade, Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP Dylan Sharpe 2 £80,000 - £84,999
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade, Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP Sonia Zvedeniuk 2  
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP Finley Morris 2  
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP Hebe Trotter 2  
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP Sophia True 2  
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP Matthew Cox 1  
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – The Rt Hon Mel Stride MP James Heywood 2  
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – The Rt Hon Mel Stride MP Rebecca MacIntyre 2  
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – The Rt Hon Mel Stride MP Joe Shalam 2  
Secretary of State for Education – The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP Lawrence Abel 2  
Secretary of State for Education – The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP Mark Lehain 2 £80,000 - £84,999
Secretary of State for Education – The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP Jamie Monteith-Mann 2  
Secretary of State for Education – The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP Asher Glynn 1  
Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP Richard Coates 2  
Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP Edgar Johnson 2  
Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP Ed Leech 2  
Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP Corrie Driscoll 1  
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP Meg Powell-Chandler[footnote 8] 3 £100,000 - £104,999
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP Pierre Andrews 2  
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP Neil Reilly 1  
Minister without Portfolio – Richard Holden MP Steph Schwarz[footnote 9] 2  
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP Louis Flood 2  
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP Harriet Smith 2  
Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP John Cooper 2  
Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP Magnus Gardham 2 £75,000 - £79,999
Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP Geoff Mawdsley 2 £75,000 - £79,999
Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP Tom Peterkin 2  
Secretary of State for Wales – The Rt Hon David TC Davies MP Tomos Povey 2  
Secretary of State for Wales – The Rt Hon David TC Davies MP Tyler Walsh 1  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) – The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP Emma Pryor 3  
Chief Secretary to the Treasury – The Rt Hon Laura Trott MP Lara Newman[footnote 10] 2  
Attorney General – The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP Rajiv Shah 3 £75,000 - £79,999
Paymaster General, Minister for the Cabinet Office – The Rt Hon John Glen MP Mark McClelland 2  
  1. Information taken from Public Sector Employment Survey March 2024, Office for National Statistics. 

  2. Based on information taken from Public Sector Employment Survey March 2024, Office for National Statistics. 

  3. Works part time - the salary band shown represents the full time equivalent, the actual salary is prorated. 

  4. Works part time - the salary band shown represents the full time equivalent, the actual salary is prorated. 

  5. Works part time - the salary band shown represents the full time equivalent, the actual salary is prorated. 

  6. Works 50% time for the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP and 50% time for the Attorney General, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP and so therefore appears in this list under both ministers.The salary band shown represents the full time equivalent, the actual salary is prorated. 

  7. Works part time. 

  8. Works part time - the salary band shown represents the full time equivalent, the actual salary is prorated. 

  9. Works part time. 

  10. Works part time.