Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Spin doctors unlimited
Just as Rhodri Morgan's Government appoints a new spin doctor in chief, it emerges the appointee is part of a growing trend in Britain. This morning's Telegraph reveals that Government spending on spin has trebled under Labour and taxpayers are now supporting an army of more than 3,200 press officers:
A total of 1,815 press officers and other public relations staff works in Whitehall departments. John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, has three press officers, despite no longer having a department.
A further 1,444 are employed by a bewildering array of more than 200 quangos and agencies that are paid for out of the public purse, bringing the total number of press officers to 3,259.
When Labour came to power in 1997, just over 300 fully-fledged press officers were working in Whitehall, although that figure excluded a small number of other public relations staff.
The amount being spent on Government advertising, marketing and public relations has risen three-fold since Mr Blair entered No 10.
The Central Office of Information's PR, advertising and marketing budget has soared from £111 million in 1997 to £322 million last year. Much of the money has been spent on advertising flagship policies, including tax credits and extra help for pensioners.
Some might say that without all these press officers newspapers like the Telegraph would have nothing to write about. The Government response however is more illuminating:
The Central Office of Information defended the increased spending, saying that Labour was "a radical and reforming Government" and that it had a duty to explain its policies, decisions and actions and to inform members of the public about their rights and liabilities.
Yeah, right!
A total of 1,815 press officers and other public relations staff works in Whitehall departments. John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, has three press officers, despite no longer having a department.
A further 1,444 are employed by a bewildering array of more than 200 quangos and agencies that are paid for out of the public purse, bringing the total number of press officers to 3,259.
When Labour came to power in 1997, just over 300 fully-fledged press officers were working in Whitehall, although that figure excluded a small number of other public relations staff.
The amount being spent on Government advertising, marketing and public relations has risen three-fold since Mr Blair entered No 10.
The Central Office of Information's PR, advertising and marketing budget has soared from £111 million in 1997 to £322 million last year. Much of the money has been spent on advertising flagship policies, including tax credits and extra help for pensioners.
Some might say that without all these press officers newspapers like the Telegraph would have nothing to write about. The Government response however is more illuminating:
The Central Office of Information defended the increased spending, saying that Labour was "a radical and reforming Government" and that it had a duty to explain its policies, decisions and actions and to inform members of the public about their rights and liabilities.
Yeah, right!
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