SpAd relief...
UPDATE: current and future SpAds can breathe again.
Last night a detailed amendment from the Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins was debated - a bit, anyway - but not pushed to a vote.
Money quote from Mr Hopkins: "Some of the special advisers in Downing Street [under Tony Blair] were actually giving instructions over the heads of ministers.
"At least two former senior ministers are on record as complaining that their role was being marginalised.
"They were being kept out of the picture because policy was being passed from Downing Street direct to the civil servants by special advisers almost making the ministers irrelevant. I am glad to say that has changed."
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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