According to the Standard newspaper, one of Gordon Brown’s senior officials at No 10 is being paid by the Unite trade union.

Clare Moody, who is a national officer for the union that is involved in the BA cabin crew strike, has been given a desk in the Prime Minister’s political office that deals with policy development and government relations, and although she works in the heart of the Government her salary and pension are being paid for by the union.

The revelation has been made amid growing concern amongst Labour supporters about the growing influence that the Unite union has over the Labour party, and the four days delay before the Prime Minister eventually criticised the union over the British Airways dispute.

Lord Mandelson is known to be worried that the union is using Labour candidate selection meetings to control the next Labour MPs, and he has made a point of helping a Blairite moderniser onto the shortlist in James Purnell’s old parliamentary seat, in defiance of Unite officials who had blocked the choice.

The Standard is reported to have telephoned Ms Moody this morning. She answered with her name at her desk in the political office, and when she was asked if the union paid her salary, she replied:

“Can I get back to you. This has come a bit out of the blue. I will come back to you.”

M/s Moody works at No 10 with Joe Irvine, the Prime Minister’s political secretary, who is a former Unite national official, whose salary is paid by the Labour Party.

Ray Collins, Labour’s general secretary, also used to work for the union and is described as “extremely friendly towards Unite”.

It also emerged today that a number of members of Unite, including leader Tony Woodley and Political Director Charlie Whelan, have been given security passes to the House of Commons.

The passes give the union barons a free run of the Commons estate, including access to bars and lobbies where they can approach MPs. They could also use Commons facilities like the library researchers if they were listed as a researcher to an MP.

Tory MP Ben Wallace said:

“Union bully boys like Charlie Whelan and Tony Woodley strut around Parliament like they own the place.

“As BA passengers struggle to make alternative holiday plans, the Labour Party engages in buying votes and twisting the truth with union money.”

Mr Woodley has a pass from Labour MP Rob Marris while Mr Whelan’s is sponsored by the Labour Party HQ.

Ms Moody also has a Commons pass, courtesy of Labour select committee chairman Terry Rooney. She is listed in the Commons records as an officer for Amicus, Unite’s predecessor union. She flew to America in 2008 on behalf of the union to study the presidential elections and learn lessons for Labour’s campaign for a fourth term. She has also stood for Parliament in 2005 in Salisbury.

A Downing Street spokesman would not confirm who paid her salary but said it did not come from public funds, and neither No 10 nor the Labour Party would confirm or deny that Ms Moody was unique in being paid by a trade union rather than a party.