Announcing the signing, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman highlighted the “vital role” special advisers play in supporting ministers and helping to protect the impartiality of the civil service. Penman also acknowledged that, “their passion, loyalty and commitment has too often been taken for granted in the past.”
In the two years since special advisers made the decision to unionise and choose FDA as their collective voice, significant milestones have been achieved. Three consolidated pay uplifts have been agreed, an independent view of pay was initiated and a new pay policy negotiated, and dozens of individual members have been advised and represented.
FDA Assistant General Secretary Lauren Crowley said, “being a special adviser is one of the hardest jobs in government”. Affirming her pride in the achievements of the past two years, Crowley stated that “the progress we have made in this short time shows the importance of having a union at every level of government.”
The formal recognition agreement will ensure that the FDA can act as the collective voice for special advisers, as we do for all our members.
As the political temperature rises in the lead up to Northern Ireland’s May election, the FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtagh has once again called on MLAs to “keep civil servants out of the political crossfire.”
FDA General Secretary Dave Penman spoke as part of the Bright Blue Panel ‘can AI improve public services?’ at Conservative Party Conference 2026 on Monday 5 October.
While these changes begin to address challenges identified by our members in the CPS, the union continues its call for increased CPS funding, in order to help tackle these crimes long-term.
