Whether they are causing mischief for their enemies, the press or their bosses, special advisors are there to take the flack and sometimes the fall for their ministers.
On Monday, it emerged the war of the cabinet ministers was actually the war of the so-called SpAds. Michael Gove and Theresa May were not the only ones at loggerheads over the 'Trojan Horse' letter which purported to reveal Islamist extremists infiltrating Birmingham schools. In fact, the row had been rumbling for months, with David Cameron's chief spinner Craig Oliver keen to deal a blow to May's SpAd Fiona Cunningham, who has now resigned.
So who are the most infamous SpAds behind the most famous politicians, who found themselves not just spinning the story, but becoming the story themselves.
- Birmingham 'Islamist Plot' Coverage Putting Muslims Off Public Service, Warns Sadiq Khan
- Labour Accuse May Of 'Breaking Ministerial Code'
- Timeline: How Did Operation Trojan Horse Turn Into A Cabinet War Between May And Gove?
- Trojan Horse Schools 'Covered Up Activities', Put On Christianity Lessons To Fool Inspectors
- EFA Finds Evidence Birmingham's Oldknow Academy Turned Into Islamic Faith School
- Michael Gove Is Not Happy When He's Asked About The 'Islamist School Plot'
- Trojan Horse Extremism Row Claims First Scalp As Theresa May Aide Fiona Cunningham Quits
