Treasury special advisers and staffing appointments

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has appointed Spencer Livermore and Damian McBride as his Special Advisers. Spencer will be the Chief Political and Strategy Adviser.

The Chancellor has also reappointed Shriti Vadera, Stewart Wood, Michael Jacobs and, on a part time basis, Paul Gregg to the Council of Economic Advisers.

The Chief Secretary has reappointed Jonathan Ashworth and Cathy Koester as his Special Advisers.

Paul Kissack, currently Head of News in HM Treasury, will replace Damian as Head of Communication.

Notes for editors

1. Spencer Livermore, 29, will be the Chancellor’s senior political adviser following Ed Miliband’s resignation in March after his selection as the Labour Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Doncaster North.

2. The Council of Economic Advisers was created in August 1997 (Treasury PN 99/97). It is made up of individual policy experts who bring their specialist advice to work alongside individual Treasury teams focusing on the Government's key policy priorities.

3. Damian McBride, 30, currently Head of Communication in HM Treasury, replaces Ian Austin, who stepped down as the Chancellor’s Press Secretary in March following his selection as the Labour Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Dudley North. Damian was appointed to the post of Head of Communication in July 2003 and took up post in September 2003 (Treasury PN 92/03). He has worked in a number of previous posts in the Treasury and HM Customs. Damian will take up his post with immediate effect.

4. Paul Kissack, 29, took up the post of Head of News in April 2004. He will now take overall responsibility for the Treasury's media arrangements and become the Chancellor's principal spokesman on economic and policy issues. Paul has worked in a number of previous posts in the Department of Health and the Treasury, including working as Private Secretary to the Chancellor. Paul will also take up his post with immediate effect.

5. Media enquiries should be directed to HM Treasury press office on 020 7270 5238.

6. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558 or by e-mail to public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk.

7. This press release and other Treasury publications and information are available on the Treasury website. If you would like Treasury press releases to be sent to you automatically by e-mail you can subscribe to this service from the press release site on the website.