The Labour Party's experts in spin are a fast-growing - and increasingly costly - breed
The advisers
Labour's special advisers have doubled in number since the last Conservative administration, and cost the taxpayer £4.4m a year in salaries. According the latest list available they are (ranked by department):
Number 10: Alastair Campbell, Director of Communications and Strategy; Jonathan Powell, Chief of Staff; Sally Morgan, Director of Government Relations; Andrew Adonis (education); Simon Stevens (health); Peter Hyman; Geoff Norris; Derek Scott (economics); Ed Richards (media); Philip Bassett (strategic communications); Carey Oppenheim; Justin Russell; Alasdair McGowan; Sarah Hunter; Roger Liddle (Europe); Liz Lloyd (environment); Fiona Millar (Cherie Blair's team); Hilary Coffman (party liaison); David Bradshaw; Kate Garvey; Catherine Rimmer; Carl Shoben; Chris McShane; Joanna Nadin; Patrick Diamond; Matthew Elson (transport).
Treasury: Ed Balls, Chief Economic Adviser; Ian Austin; Ed Miliband. Council of Economic Advisers (hired on special adviser terms): Paul Gregg; Maeve Sherlock; Shriti Vara; Chris Wales.
Chief Whip: Sue Jackson; Fiona Gordon. Chief Whip (Lords): Margaret Ounsley.
Cabinet Office: David Mathieson (unpaid); Joe McCrea; Keith Hellawell, adviser on international drug issues.
Deputy Prime Minister: Ian McKenzie; Joan Hammell; Anna Healy (part-time); Paul Hackett (part-time).
Leader of the House of Commons: Meg Russell; Greg Power. Leader of the House of Lords: Matthew Seward; Deborah Lincoln.
Trade and Industry: Jim Godfrey; Kitty Ussher; Roger Sharp (part-time and unpaid).
Culture, Media and Sport: Bill Bush; Ruth Mackenzie.
Education and Skills: Chris Boffey; William Cavendish.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Nicci Collins; Sheila Watson.
Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Dan Corry; Michael Dugher.
Home Office: Nick Pearce; Sophie Linden; Katherine Raymond; Huw Evans.
Ministry of Defence: Andrew Hood; Richard Taylor.
Health: Darren Murphy; Paul Corrigan.
Work and Pensions: Kieran Simpson; Andre Maugham.
Lord Chancellor's Department: Garry Hart.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Ed Owen; Michael Williams.
International Development: David Mepham; Susannah Cox.
Northern Ireland Office: Richard Olszewski; Steve Bates.
Welsh Office: Andrew Bold; Adrian McMenaman.
Scottish Office: Nicholas Comfort; George McGregor.
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