Since leaving Number 10, Dominic Cummings has seemingly made it his mission to discredit the current government however he can. His declaration of war? A mimed grenade, thrown over his shoulder whilst making his final exit.
But his time within Downing Street was hardly peaceful, marred with scandal and stories of high profile sackings. One of his many victims was Peter Cardwell. He was fired from his role as Special Advisor to then Housing Secretary James Brokenshire.
Mr Cardwell spent three and a half years as a media special adviser, also called a SpAd. Before that, he spent ten years as a journalist. The role is a political appointment; Mr Cardwell is a member of the Conservative Party.
“Most cabinet secretaries have two or three people who can give them advice on media or policy”, he tells City News, explaining the job.
Is the power special advisers have overstated?
“Some special advisers have very little power because their ministers are very head strong and dominant, and others are very influential because their ministers are perhaps indecisive, or just let them have influence because they trust them and believe they’ve got their agenda in mind.”
As unelected individuals, do you sometimes feel uncomfortable with the level of responsibility you have?
“No, most people who have power in this country are unelected, the Archbishop of Canterbury is unelected. Most civil servants, permanent secretaries of departments, are unelected. The people who have power in your life, in terms of your doctors and teachers are all unelected.”
Power and Ambition
Is it possible to push your own agenda?
“Yes absolutely. You have a lot of power.”
“In any department it is impossible for any Secretary of State to be across every issue at every time. The only real policy issue I was put in charge of was homelessness at the Ministry of Housing.”
“There were certainly things I did, pushing that agenda, which I hadn’t specifically discussed with James Brokenshire who was my boss, and the Secretary of State for Housing, but I knew I’d have his blessing.”
Why did you become a SpAd?
“Sorry if this sounds a bit pretentious, but serving your country and getting Northern Ireland back on track after a very difficult period was something I wanted to do, and I’m really glad I did it”.
“Nobody goes into government not to change people’s lives and the country, and I think that whether you’re a Conservative or a member of any political party.”
“Look there are of course arrogant climbers who are in it for themselves, and self-confidence and ambition has to play a part in it or you wouldn’t get to that level.”
“But at the same time the vast majority of people I met in politics… were in it for the right reasons, they wanted to make a difference, they wanted to change the country for the better.”
Dominic Cummings
Has Dominic Cummings been, in your opinion, a breath of fresh air or a complete disaster?
“Somewhere in the middle.”
“Everyone has an agenda in Westminster, and Dominic Cummings’ is to be someone who is very disruptive, it always has been. He’s always been a maverick.”
Why do you think Mr Cummings wanted you out?
“A lot of people in the favour of Dominic Cummings were the true believers of the Leave campaign, they were on the right of the party, so it didn’t surprise me that when there was natural change, they got rid of 12 people and I was one of them.”
“If you go into it not knowing that will happen at any point then you’re totally naïve.”
Peter Cardwell enjoys a glass of wine with Boris Johnson during his time at the Ministry of Housing. Credit: Peter Cardwell.
Is not being bitter important in your mind?
“Having been a journalist, it’s really helpful, because contracts come to an end, broadcast managers may make promises that don’t come through.”
“You’ve got to realise you’re a cog in a machine, the government will continue without me, everything will be fine and you’ve just got to live with it, it’s life.
“You’ve just got to remember that it’s not all about you, get over it.”
The Secret Life of Special Advisers by Peter Cardwell is out now, (Biteback Publishing, £20).
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HeadlinePeter Cardwell: ‘disruptive’ Dominic Cummings and life inside Whitehall
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StandfirstThe former special adviser tells City News about his time in the role, and the influence all special advisers held within the corridors of power.
Since leaving Number 10, Dominic Cummings has seemingly made it his mission to discredit the current government however he can. His declaration of war? A mimed grenade, thrown over his shoulder whilst making his final exit.
But his time within Downing Street was hardly peaceful, marred with scandal and stories of high profile sackings. One of his many victims was Peter Cardwell. He was fired from his role as Special Advisor to then Housing Secretary James Brokenshire.
Mr Cardwell spent three and a half years as a media special adviser, also called a SpAd. Before that, he spent ten years as a journalist. The role is a political appointment; Mr Cardwell is a member of the Conservative Party.
“Most cabinet secretaries have two or three people who can give them advice on media or policy”, he tells City News, explaining the job.
Is the power special advisers have overstated?
“Some special advisers have very little power because their ministers are very head strong and dominant, and others are very influential because their ministers are perhaps indecisive, or just let them have influence because they trust them and believe they’ve got their agenda in mind.”
As unelected individuals, do you sometimes feel uncomfortable with the level of responsibility you have?
“No, most people who have power in this country are unelected, the Archbishop of Canterbury is unelected. Most civil servants, permanent secretaries of departments, are unelected. The people who have power in your life, in terms of your doctors and teachers are all unelected.”
Power and Ambition
Is it possible to push your own agenda?
“Yes absolutely. You have a lot of power.”
“In any department it is impossible for any Secretary of State to be across every issue at every time. The only real policy issue I was put in charge of was homelessness at the Ministry of Housing.”
“There were certainly things I did, pushing that agenda, which I hadn’t specifically discussed with James Brokenshire who was my boss, and the Secretary of State for Housing, but I knew I’d have his blessing.”
Why did you become a SpAd?
“Sorry if this sounds a bit pretentious, but serving your country and getting Northern Ireland back on track after a very difficult period was something I wanted to do, and I’m really glad I did it”.
“Nobody goes into government not to change people’s lives and the country, and I think that whether you’re a Conservative or a member of any political party.”
“Look there are of course arrogant climbers who are in it for themselves, and self-confidence and ambition has to play a part in it or you wouldn’t get to that level.”
“But at the same time the vast majority of people I met in politics… were in it for the right reasons, they wanted to make a difference, they wanted to change the country for the better.”
Dominic Cummings
Has Dominic Cummings been, in your opinion, a breath of fresh air or a complete disaster?
“Somewhere in the middle.”
“Everyone has an agenda in Westminster, and Dominic Cummings’ is to be someone who is very disruptive, it always has been. He’s always been a maverick.”
Why do you think Mr Cummings wanted you out?
“A lot of people in the favour of Dominic Cummings were the true believers of the Leave campaign, they were on the right of the party, so it didn’t surprise me that when there was natural change, they got rid of 12 people and I was one of them.”
“If you go into it not knowing that will happen at any point then you’re totally naïve.”
Peter Cardwell enjoys a glass of wine with Boris Johnson during his time at the Ministry of Housing. Credit: Peter Cardwell.
Is not being bitter important in your mind?
“Having been a journalist, it’s really helpful, because contracts come to an end, broadcast managers may make promises that don’t come through.”
“You’ve got to realise you’re a cog in a machine, the government will continue without me, everything will be fine and you’ve just got to live with it, it’s life.
“You’ve just got to remember that it’s not all about you, get over it.”
The Secret Life of Special Advisers by Peter Cardwell is out now, (Biteback Publishing, £20).
