The era of Labour spin is far from over with Gordon Brown spending more on marketing and advertising than Tony Blair, according to claims by The Conservative Party.

The Tories say the Prime Minister has increased spending on campaigns by £54m over his first year. It says that the Government spent £391m on advertising, marketing and communications over 2007/08, a 16% increase on the previous year.

Greg Clark, the shadow minister for the Cabinet Office (pictured), says that the figures make a "sham" of Brown's promises about new politics. He says: "At a time when families and businesses are having to cut back, Gordon Brown is increasing spending on promoting himself and his government. This is backdoor state funding of a near-bankrupt Labour Party."