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.
Yesterday, FDA staff and reps attended the 2026 Fast Stream annual Base Camp, welcoming this year’s new joiners to the scheme and sharing the benefits of FDA membership with them.
The FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtagh has written to Speaker of the Assembly, Edwin Poots, asking him to remind MLAs that when officials appear before the Assembly, impartiality must not be brought into question.
If Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants a different political culture, he needs to start with the Ministerial Code says Dave Penman.
