Ed Miliband aide: David Cameron is pimping himself for 2018

Ed Miliband's chief spin doctor had to apologise today for saying the Prime Minister was "pimping himself" for the World Cup bid.

Katie Myler's comment in a tweet caused fury among England supporters who feared it would undermine the 2018 presentation.

One of the Labour leader's closest aides, she wrote: "Hypocrisy of Cameron pimping himself out in Zurich whilst Gove's school sport fiasco continues at home is breathtaking."

In a second caustic message, Ms Myler — who tweets under the pseudonym LadyMyler — went on: "Assume we'll win the bid. Cameron wouldn't deign to do anything as unseemly as publicly plead for something otherwise."

She sent the tweets as Mr Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham were making their case in Zurich.

A Tory source said: "The World Cup bid should be about sport, not party politics. It's unbelievable that whilst the Prime Minister was putting England's case in Zurich one of Ed Miliband's senior staffers was making cheap party political points back at home.

"It raises yet more questions about Ed Miliband's judgment that he surrounds himself with people like this."

Ms Myler said: "I wholeheartedly apologise for the remarks. They are no reflection whatsoever of Ed's views. Of course, it goes without saying that I fully back the England bid."

The spin doctor announced last month that she was leaving her post and would move into the private sector.

Downing Street reacted coolly to her comments. "We have made every effort to secure the World Cup for England in 2018," said Mr Cameron's spokesman.

"The Prime Minister has made it a priority and given a lot of his time over the past few days to push the bid as hard as we can because securing the World Cup for England would be a great thing for the country and would be warmly welcomed by everyone in the country."

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Katie Myler has apologised for her personal tweet. It in no way expresses the views of Ed Miliband who has been, and remains, strongly supportive of England's bid to host the World Cup in 2018."

Ms Myler later deleted her original posts, writing: "So sorry for earlier tweets, personal comments that don't reflect Ed's views. Wish the bid, and the bid team well."

Flame-haired and feisty, Katie Myler is a combative operator who is never afraid to speak her mind.

She was born into journalism, the daughter of tabloid editor Colin Myler, who became editor of the News of the World when David Cameron's media adviser Andy Coulson quit.

During a decade at GMTV, she spent two years in New York and became senior producer for political coverage. A Labour supporter, she became special adviser to former home secretary Jacqui Smith and then health secretary Andy Burnham.

She is shortly to join PR firm Burson-Marsteller.