Labour has been accused of wasteful spending and hypocrisy after a Mail audit found ‘vanity photographers’ were costing the Government more than £500,000.

On Monday, this newspaper revealed Ed Miliband was advertising for a taxpayer-funded photographer – despite him previously criticising politicians for hiring them.

Analysis shows that a dozen of his colleagues already use them – almost twice as many as were estimated under the last Conservative administration – at a cost to the taxpayer of at least £500,000 a year.

Sir Keir Starmer leads the list with two photographers in No 10, while Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has one.

Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, hired a photographer on a salary of £68,000 last year – also prompting accusations of hypocrisy. While in Opposition, she was highly critical of Boris Johnson‘s ‘vanity photographers’.

Their work, usually shots of ministers in a flattering light, is showcased on their government department’s Flickr page.

Job adverts suggest their pay ranges from £40,000 to £70,000 a year, plus generous civil service pension contributions.

This week Mr Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero advertised for a photographer to cover ministerial visits and shoot official portraits, on a pay and pension package worth about £50,000 a year on a pro-rata basis.

Sir Keir Starmer leads the list with two photographers taking professional images in No 10

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has one photographer of her own

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner hired a photographer on a salary of £68,000 last year

As Labour leader in 2010, Mr Miliband criticised then-prime minister David Cameron for having a personal photographer.

Joanna Marchong, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘The war on waste Labour promised is proving as hollow as their commitment to economic growth.’

A government spokesman said: ‘It has been the case under successive governments that departments employ press, digital and visual media officers to communicate policies and ensure they are accessible to the public.

‘More broadly, this Government is cutting back on wasteful spending, including making £80million of savings.’