ABSTRACT
The integration of political advisors into the Westminster system of government has not gone without a hitch. There have been tensions due to the highly partisan behaviour of advisors which causes them to exceed the appropriate boundaries of their role. Further, in a frenetic and largely media-driven environment, the way in which political advisors have utilised the media has created problems. This chapter examines the scandals and controversies that have engulfed political advisors in the Westminster jurisdictions over the years. It seeks to categorise the commonalities between the various scandals. The chapter identifies two main causes of scandals: the media/politics and faction/opposition interfaces.
