MPs raise concerns over spads’ role in deciding pandemic funding

Public accounts committee points to unusual' meeting where special advisers were running the shop'

Fresh questions over checks and balances in government have been raised after political special advisers (spads) were accused of running the shop" in a meeting with civil servants about handing out emergency pandemic cash to charities.

MPs raised concerns about the process run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to decide how much money from a 750m pot should be given to other departments to then allocate to voluntary and community organisations last April.