The coalition's pledge to cut the cost of politics will be broken this week when figures reveal the Government now has more spin-doctors than under Labour.

After the election, the number of policy and media political aides was cut. In the past 18 months the number has crept up, in part fuelled by concern that civil servants were hindering the coalition's plans.

Last month, the Liberal Democrats appointed an additional six advisors to counter claims they were not influencing every area of government.