Michelle Mone defends use of government car after Twitter backlash

Former lingerie tycoon and government advisor Michelle Mone has defended her use of a government chauffeur-driven Jaguar.

She posted a photo of the interior of the car, showing her drying a top on the car's dashboard, commenting: "The things you do.. in Government car drying my travel top. Love it so much. See you soon. #Stockport #betheboss".

But the founder of the Ultimo underwear brand soon faced a backlash from her Twitter followers.

One asked: "Are you teaching folk that once you make lots of money, it's a great laugh to waste taxpayers' money?"; another wanted to know why "Michelle Mone, who claims to be a millionaire, needs a taxpayer-funded Jaguar".

A third said: If there's gear-changing equipment under that red top, then it's obvious she's endangering the safety of everyone in the car. To think that we, as taxpayers, are footing the bill for this nonsense is galling in the extreme."

Mone, 43, is believed to be worth as much as £20 million. She was appointed as David Cameron's small business tsar in August, and is now travelling the country, encouraging people to set up their own businesses and compiling a report about entrepreneurship in the UK.

She's also been appointed a Tory peer, and is expected to take the title Baroness Mone of Mayfair.

Since the backlash Mone has deleted the tweet about the government-funded car - and tweeted several times about using the train.

And today, she commented: "I'm working so hard & giving over 50 FREE days for this review to give back. I got a lift in a car for 15 mins, dropped at the train station..."

She added: "How is this fair when all I'm trying to do is help other people achieve their dreams? I will continue to work hard & carry on with my work."

According to the Department for Work and Pensions, Mone was given the car for the day only because it wasn't being used by a minister.

But even ministers are supposed to be cutting down on their use of chauffeur-driven cars, with the then chief secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, saying in 2010 that they would be expected to walk or take public transport whenever possible.

Earlier this year, though, Michael Gove came under fire for using a chauffeur-driven Jaguar to travel the 400 yards between Downing Street and the House of Commons.

And last summer, it was revealed that the Foreign Office was regularly using chauffeur-driven cars to ferry ministerial boxes around: "luxury travel for glorified briefcases", according to Andy Silvester of the TaxPayers' Alliance.

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