Limo dependency

MINISTERS are to have a SECOND chauffeur for their limos, it emerged last night. The number of official drivers will be doubled at the taxpayers’ expense. The move — to cost millions — comes as Prime Minister Gordon Brown battles growing public outrage over revelations about MPs’ milking their expenses. Ministerial chauffeurs are currently “overworked”, the Government has ruled.

Last night the Government Car Service said had been forced to act because of the European Commission’s directive on work hours.

The plan would see the 85 chauffeurs currently employed boosted to around 170.

Taxpayers already fork out a £7million a year on supplying Jaguars, Toyotas and Hondas to ministers and senior Whitehall officials.