Tories hit out at COI's £30m January spending spree

Central government advertising in January 2010 was £30m, the highest January on record, according to the Tories. The opposition party also claims that October, November and December 2009 saw the biggest spends on record for their respective months.

Francis Maude, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, claimed the activity had "all the hallmarks of a banana republic, trying to buy the election by abusing public funds".

He claimed: "Labour ministers have refused to publish details of the advertising and marketing campaigns that are being run at taxpayers' expense in the run-up to the general election – pledging only to release the data in annual accounts in August 2010."

COI advertising in the run-up to an election always comes under intense scrutiny. The Conservatives claim that during both the past two general elections, advertising had shot up in the months preceding the poll.

Although government advertising is prevented by a 'state of purdah' once the general election has been called, there are no restrictions on state advertising in the period before this.

The Tories have pledged to cut COI budgets by 40% as a priority if the party is elected. The government has said it will cut COI spend by 25%, but over a longer period.