The Rise of Political Advisors in the Westminster System

Yee-Fui Ng

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781351020527
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Politics
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Political advisors have risen in significance in Westminster countries, and have been increasingly thrust into the limelight by headline scandals and through their characterisation in various television series. This increased prominence has led to greater scrutiny of their role and influence. This book demonstrates that the introduction of political advisors into the structure of the executive has led to the erosion of the Westminster doctrine of ministerial responsibility.

Adopting a comparative approach, the book analyses the rise in the power and significance of political advisors in the Westminster jurisdictions of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It shows the fundamental shift of the locus of power from the neutral public service to highly political and partisan ministerial advisors. Tracing the divergent paths for legal and political regulation of political advisors, Yee-Fui Ng illuminates the tensions that they pose within the Westminster system in terms of the media/politics and faction/opposition interfaces.

Providing insights for those researching or engaged in politics and public administration, this work will interest scholars and students of politics and public law, policy and administration.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Genesis and rise
• 3 Advisors and the civil service
• 4 Scandals and controversies
• 5 Legal and political regulation
• 6 Realigning Westminster
• 7 Conclusion
• Index