The Policy Unit and Other Policy Advisers

Abstract

The role of the policy unit and other policy advisers located at 10, Downing Street is to provide the prime minister with advice about substantive policy. To carry out their essential role of coordinating the work of their cabinet colleagues prime ministers need staff to advise them on policy. In her first years as prime minister Mrs Thatcher seemed to have realized the drawbacks of having a substantial group of policy advisers inside No. 10. She reduced their number from the seven to eight of James Callaghan to three: a senior policy adviser, a part-time special adviser and a civil servant. She wanted to show that her style of government was different from his, and she could not convincingly preach economy in government if she maintained a large political staff of her own.1 From 1982 the number of policy advisers rose, fluctuating between four and eight with a peak in 1983 of nine, including two civil servants. During her period of government she appointed a few other policy advisers not located within the policy unit: two for foreign affairs, one for defence and one for economic affairs, and occasionally other part-time advisers. Specifically to help her fulfil her responsibilities as minister for the civil service she appointed a series of advisers on efficiency in government who worked from the Cabinet Office (discussed later in Part II, Chapter 12).