Bra baroness bags a Jag on the taxpayer
LINGERIE tycoon Michelle Mone has been given a government Jaguar to ferry her around the country.
Miss Mone – who was controversially handed a peerage last month – boasted on Twitter yesterday that she had the use of the chauffeur- driven car while she writes a report on small businesses for ministers.
The founder of racy underwear firm Ultimo posted a photo of the interior of the car, saying: ‘Love it so much’. But critics immediately asked why Miss Mone, 43, who is believed to have made £20million from her firm, needs subsidised car travel.
Miss Mone was appointed as David Cameron’s small business tsar in August and given the job of travelling round the country speaking to anyone from ex-convicts to single parents about setting up their own companies. She is also compiling a report about entrepreneurship and the difficulties of setting up small businesses in
‘A waste of taxpayers’ money’
deprived areas for Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
She was also appointed a Tory peer in a move seen as a reward for opposing Scottish independence and supporting the Tories at the election. It is believed she will be known as Baroness Mone of Mayfair.
Last night the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed Miss Mone, who is not being paid by the Government, had the use of a car yesterday, but would not say how much it cost taxpayers or how often she could use it.
Yesterday the business tsar was in Stockport, Ellesmere Port and Manchester doing research for her report. Today she is due to be in Yorkshire.
The fact that Miss Mone has the use of a state Jaguar emerged when she tweeted a picture of one of her tops drying on its dashboard. The chauffeur is also visible.
She wrote: ‘The things you do… in Government car drying my travel top… love it so much. See you soon #Stockport #betheboss.’
The tweet received a negative response from Twitter users, with one writing: ‘Are you teaching folk that once you make lots of money, it’s a great laugh to waste taxpayers’ money?’
Another user said he was blocked after asking why ‘Michelle Mone, who claims to be a millionaire, needs a taxpayer-funded Jaguar’.
Mother-of-three Miss Mone later deleted the picture.
A government spokesman said loaning Miss Mone the Jaguar worked out cheaper than if she had taken cabs and charged the cost back to the taxpayer.
She added: ‘ The car was not required by a minister this morning and was offered to Michelle Mone for use in connection with legitimate government business.’
Dia Chakravarty, political director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘If a politician needs a taxpayer-funded car, there are far cheaper options available.’
A Labour source said last night: ‘This is typical out-oftouch Tory extravagance which will drive the taxpayer mad.’