Demoted... but Minister KEEPS chauffeur-driven limo
A TORY Minister sacked from the Cabinet by Theresa May has kept a taxpayer-funded chauffeur-driven limo after an outburst of ‘political road rage’, it was claimed last night.
Matthew Hancock was said to be furious when he found out his demotion from Cabinet Office Minister to Culture Minister meant he would lose his perk of use of an official car and driver.
After failing to persuade his new boss, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, to let him have the department’s sole official car, Hancock demanded – and got – another one, say sources.
Labour accused Hancock of an ‘outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money’.
It is not the first time he has been accused of extravagance.
As David Cameron’s Energy Minister, he hired a private jet to fly from Scotland to London – after signing a deal to combat global warming. And as a Business Minister, he insisted civil servants change his official photograph and use one he preferred instead.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed last night that a second car was now available for Ministers to use.
One insider said: ‘I wouldn’t call it a hissy fit by Hancock – more like political road rage. He was determined to have his own set of wheels.’
But a friend of Hancock said: ‘He will be sharing it with the other Ministers in the department. It’s not just his.’
The government car service has 85 vehicles used to transport Ministers on official business. The DCMS said last night that a second car had been provided because there were now more Ministers in the department.
Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson said: ‘Theresa May says she is on the side of working people but it appears Matt Hancock believes working people should pay for Ministers to be ferried around.’