Conservative peer Michelle Mone, who lives in the Isle of Man, says she is ‘proud’ to be a member of the House of Lords and takes her duties there ‘very seriously.’

Glasgow-bornBaroness Mone faced criticism this week from a Scottish politician after her attendance record in the UK parliament was disclosed.

The leading businesswoman was ennobled by the then Tory Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015.

She was created a life peer as Baroness Mone of Mayfair.

The Times reported that her absence rate in the Lords was 88 per cent.

She turned up on 19 days out of a possible 157 in a parliamentary year and missed debates on important issues, including a key vote on Britain’s withdrawal from Europe.

But a spokesman for Lady Mone said: ‘Baroness Mone is proud to be part of the House of Lords.

She is also a full-time businesswoman and a fully-committed mum.

‘This year she has launched a global business as well as overseeing her other companies but will always take her duties in the House of Lords very seriously.’

Scottish Parliament member Rona Mackay told The Times: ‘Michelle Mone is the ultimate poster girl for the abolition of the Lords and is increasingly an embarrassment to the Scottish Tories and [their leader]Ruth Davidson. While Westminster politics faces the chaos and financial ruin of Brexit, one of its toughest challenges for generations, she’s been missing in action.

‘Lady Mone is a pointless peer, and a ludicrous waste of public money.

‘Little wonder there are fresh calls for the Layabout Lady of Mayfair to resign.

‘Better still, we should abolish the Lords altogether and chuck all the has-beens, failed politicians, aristocrats and party cronies off the public payroll.’

Lady Mone founded the Ultimo lingerie brand before later selling the business and now has her own jewellery range.

Michelle Mone shares a home in the island with wealthy businessman and entrepreneur Doug Barrowman, who also shares Glaswegian roots.

The 47-year-old businesswoman invited Hello magazine into their home in 2017 and declared: ‘I feel like I’m in a fairytale, a beautiful dream I don’t ever want to wake up from.’