By Mark Davies BBC News Online political reporter

They combine a fearsome loyalty to the party with a deep-rooted suspicion of anyone not signed up to the project and a particularly sneering disregard for most of the media.

That someone like Dan Corry got sucked in to this siege-like mentality has surprised many at Westminster

It can lead to tactics and suggestions - like "burying" bad news on September 11 - unbecoming of a government.

The sometimes shameless behaviour betrays a lack of confidence in the real business of government.

Unhappy

This niggly paranoia is a hangover from their dark days in opposition. Most Labour stalwarts still harbour deep resentment over what they believe was the unfair treatment of former leader Neil Kinnock.

Mr Corry is well-regarded as an honest operator not inclined to dabble in spin

Many of the people who worked tirelessly for Labour during that unhappy period for the party are now special advisers in government. And the trappings of office have not altered their perspective.

That someone like Dan Corry got sucked in to this siege-like mentality has surprised many at Westminster, and it says much about the shambles at the transport department under Stephen Byers that he did.

Mr Corry, who is in Japan for England's big match against Argentina, has now apologised for an e-mail he sent to Labour headquarters asking for information on the political sympathies of Paddington rail crash survivors.

Well-regarded

When ministers appoint special advisers, most opt to select at least one to advise on policy and another to liaise with the press.

In Mr Byers' department, Mr Corry took on the policy brief, while Jo Moore - she of the infamous September 11 e-mail - was the former transport secretary's spin doctor.

Both were political appointments, meaning neither was drawn from the civil service, though they were paid by the taxpayer.

Mr Corry is well-regarded at Westminster as an honest operator not inclined to dabble in spin.

Many say the e-mail request that put his name in the spotlight is out of character for the 42-year-old economist.

Apology

A philosophy, politics and economics graduate from Oxford University, Mr Corry worked at the treasury before joining Labour's economic team in 1989.

The prime minister needs to somehow change the culture within his government

He worked for former leader John Smith and for Margaret Beckett during her time as shadow chief secretary to the treasury.

After a period with the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank, he joined the government as a special adviser to Mrs Beckett at the trade and industry department (DTI) in 1997.

He stayed in the role when Mr Byers arrived at the DTI and moved with him to transport in 2001.

His apology over the Paddington survivors e-mail is the latest in a flurry over the last two days.

The new transport secretary, Alistair Darling, got the ball rolling on Thursday, quickly followed by Mr Byers. Tony Blair expressed his regret over the affair.

'Less controlling'

All will be keen to now draw a line under the row, not least Mr Corry, whose enjoyment of the big match in Sapporo will now be somewhat lessened.

But what the prime minister really needs to do is somehow change the culture within his government along the lines recently set out by, of all people, that master of the dark arts of spin, Peter Mandelson.

Mr Mandelson has said it is time for the Labour Party to put "the age of spin" behind it and become less neurotic - "a little less controlling and a bit more relaxed".

This appeal has also been backed by other senior figures in the government amid an ongoing debate about where Labour goes from here.

But as this latest affair shows, the message doesn't seem to be getting through.

Perhaps someone should send out an e-mail.