ABSTRACT
The Westminster principles of ministerial responsibility and the politics/administration dichotomy were conceived of in a past era where Ministers were administering small departments and the only relevant relationship was that of the Minister and the civil service. These concepts have become problematised as political advisors have been added as a ‘third wheel’ in the system. This chapter discusses how the Westminster system could be realigned to accommodate political advisors, as relatively new actors within the executive. It argues that in the context of weak vertical or parliamentary accountability, horizontal accountability mechanisms, such as the oversight bodies and the media, have become increasingly important to ensure the accountability of political advisors.
