Conflicts between powerful figures in Downing Street and special advisers are nothing new. Dominic Cummings – Boris Johnson's right-hand man inside No 10 – has had several high-profile bust-ups with spades, as they are known, which have even led to the resignation of a Cabinet minister.
Theresa May's pugilistic leaders Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill were known for their confrontational style. Hill, in particular, made himself unpopular with his blunt text messages to ministers, Tory MPs and advisers.
However, it was unprecedented for Spat employees as a whole to come together to take a stand because they are so upset about how they believe they are being treated. And last month, it emerged that several Labor spades had joined a union over concerns about their pay.
They used their contacts in the media to complain not only about their own situation – many were paid less than their Tory predecessors, and on temporary contracts – but they felt a lack of understanding at No 10 on the political side. of activity.
Fairly or otherwise, Sue Gray, Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, has been accused of blocking access to the prime minister and stalling decisions.
“We were very angry about the lack of transparency on salaries. There was so much frivolity,” one Spade told the Guardian. “There's no reason why we weren't told the pay rates or what Tory councilors got – we had to find out from the authorities. This caused everyone's back pain from the start.
Another said: “The fundamental issue is that Sue Gray does not value the contribution that political advisers make. We can talk about pay and all that but ultimately it's about the perceived value of those jobs.
Last weekend, everything came to a head. Starmer, warned by senior aides and cabinet ministers that he must “get a grip” on the No 10 operation or risk internal power struggles that could undermine the government, asked Gray to step aside.
Her key political aide, Morgan McSweeney, was offered the role in her place. He worked in opposition and election campaigns with many spots and many felt that he was one of them. No 10 does not believe his appointment will end the Spot Rebellion.
Little wonder, then, that more than 50 special advisers and Labor officials crowded into a committee room in the House of Commons on Tuesday night to hear the 10th chief minister speak.
The weekly meeting, known as the “spade school” under the Conservatives, was McSweeney's first opportunity to address their grievances to the whole group since Gray's ouster. They welcomed him warmly.
“He told us it would be sorted and I'm holding on, it should never have happened,” said one. “There is an understanding that this will be sorted out very, very quickly.”
Another said: “He promised to pay us wages and so on. He knew how hard we all worked and agreed that things should have been better when we got here. That was the first time,” he said.
Others described his 10-minute speech to aides as a “pep talk” to rekindle the camaraderie of the general election campaign.
“I don't think a speech will change everything overnight, but it certainly helped,” said one.
Another added: “The real feeling is that it's settled now and it's going to go to a better place.”
McSweeney told them that in his new role, he wants to help different groups of spades in different departments deliver on the government's priorities. But there is no mention of Grey. They were not disciplined for testifying against her.
After he left, Labor party leader Ellie Reeves and communications director Matthew Doyle addressed the group, promising that the grid – the weekly diary – would be improved.
Later, the special advisers told the Guardian they were assured their concerns would be addressed. “It's night and day. We are very confident. There is a sense that everyone is now pulling in the right direction,” said one.
“It is about the strategic direction of the government and how it works. Our mood reflected dismay at how Sue Gray did things without proper focus on political matters.
Even Starmer is feeling upbeat after a particularly tough few days. An associate said: “Keir looked very chipper when I saw him this week. He does this sometimes – he has a large staff, which excites him, but usually only for a couple of months.”
But some in Westminster are cautioning spades by assuming all concerns over pay and contracts will be resolved immediately. The Cabinet Office had already announced a review of pay scales last month.
Peter Cardwell, former Tory adviser and author of The Secret Life of Special Advisers, said: “It's easy to agree to a pay review, but it doesn't mean your pay is going to go up or you're going to get what you want. .
“At the end of the day, the power rests with senior figures like McSweeney and the Cabinet Office and the number of spades and the overall staffing bill will factor into this. They feel things are getting better and want to see what happens. But will number 10 deliver?”
Former Spade, who worked in three different government departments, explained that having a “strange” role with no real job description and a wide range of experience made it difficult to have a single pay structure.
“Some are glorified bag-handlers and others have more serious input into politics, policy, the media and the boss's ear. How to fix wages?” He added.
Senior Whitehall figures also warn that there will be no sudden resolution to the conflict. No 10 have agreed in principle to a pay review but are understood to be still negotiating terms of reference.
“Everybody assumed it would be fixed under Morgan,” says one. “But I suspect they will be disappointed.”
Downing Street should not be reassured that the Spot Rebellion is over for good. A consultant said he hoped there would be no more problems. But they added: “If there is, a marker has been placed.”
