"The role of the special adviser is one of the most controversial issues in British politics, with this unelected subdivision of the political class having multiplied in both number and influence since the advent of New Labour." "But there is nothing new in the idea of leaders bringing in outsiders to advise on particular areas of policy or party politics, and this first in-depth study of special advisers brings an historical as well as an analytical perspective to a hot topic."--BOOK JACKET.