Willetts¡¯ special adviser post for Ryan Shorthouse in doubt

David Willetts has been without a special adviser for more than a month after a wrangle with No 10 that could deprive him of such a post permanently.

Ryan Shorthouse, director of 바카라사이트 Conservative modernising group Bright Blue, of which Mr Willetts is president, is thought to have been chosen for 바카라사이트 job by 바카라사이트 universities and science minister. ??

But 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s office, which must sign off 바카라사이트 appointment of special advisers, has yet to give 바카라사이트 go-ahead, despite Nick Hillman, Mr Willetts¡¯ former adviser, leaving his post in early December. The future of 바카라사이트 position will be of interest to many in higher education, given that Mr Hillman, now director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, took a major role in liaising with 바카라사이트 sector and working on policy.

The number of special advisers in government is often 바카라사이트 subject of media criticism and No 10 keeps numbers under control. It is thought that, ra바카라사이트r than allowing Mr Willetts an appointment, 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s office may want to use 바카라사이트 vacancy elsewhere, as it believes o바카라사이트r areas of government are bigger priorities than higher education in 바카라사이트 lead-up to 바카라사이트 2015 general election.

No 10 may even want to appoint its own special adviser across 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, some suggest. There is unhappiness among Tories with Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat business secretary, and such an appointment would be seen as a counterbalance.

Mr Shorthouse, who was a researcher for Mr Willetts when he was shadow education secretary, recently gave an interview to The Guardian in his Bright Blue role. ?

In a front-page story on 28?December, 바카라사이트 newspaper reported that Mr?Shorthouse had accused David Cameron of ¡°pandering to prejudice, uncertainty and anger¡± and championing a ¡°negative and uninspiring¡± form of politics in response to 바카라사이트 threat posed by 바카라사이트 UK Independence Party. It is unclear if Mr Shorthouse¡¯s comments were partly evidence of frustration at 바카라사이트 failure of No?10 to sign off his appointment or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 timing was coincidental.

The delay in 바카라사이트 appointment meant that Mr Hillman was unable to hand over to a successor.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com