LEADER of Essex County Council Lord Hanningfield has defended having a taxpayer-funded chauffeur driven car to ferry him around on council business.

It comes a week after it was revealed the Tory peer claimed £25,000 of taxpayers’ money for accommodation and expenses to sit in the House of Lords – despite living less than 40 miles away in West Hanningfield, near Chelmsford.

Since then questions have been raised as to why he needs a second home if he has a chauffeur driven car.

However Lord Hanningfield, stressed the two roles were “totally separate”.

“The two things have nothing to do with each other. I have an extremely busy life, I am leader of Essex County Council and am the Shadow Minister for Transport in the House of Lords,” he said.

“The car is provided by the county council for council business. It does not take me to and from the House of Lords every day. It is used to take me to meetings and events on council business for Essex.

“In total we have three county council cars, used by myself and other council leaders.”

Lord Hanningfield also hit back at an attack by Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell, who complained about the peer’s expenses in Parliament.

Mr Russell said: “I think when you look at the claims he has made for the House of Lords, including subsistence claims, and then consider also his allowances and claims as leader of Essex County Council, I just feel that, perhaps, the relevant authorities should be looking into them.“ However Lord Hanningfield said: “Compared to the expenses of Bob Russell – who has been having a go at me – my own are minute, and I work a lot harder than him.

“From September, I will be publishing my expenses on the web. I’ve got nothing to hide.”