MARGARET BECKETT is receiving round-the-clock police protection and the use of chauffeur-driven cars despite being removed as foreign secretary two years ago.

The housing minister and veteran Labour MP has insisted on retaining a full team of security officers and use of two government cars since 2007 when she was moved from the top diplomatic post by Gordon Brown.

Her refusal to give up the trappings of high office has not only drawn criticism from opposition politicians but has infuriated Labour colleagues who accuse her of “behaving like royalty”.

The annual cost of Beckett’s police security is estimated at £250,000, while the cost of using the two cars is likely to increase her total bill to taxpayers by an extra £50,000 a year.

One of the cars is for her official business as housing minister, while the other vehicle is part of Beckett’s security detail and is available for use in her constituency at weekends.

Yesterday, Beckett was under pressure to give up the special protection after her department failed to provide a defence of the arrangement. Critics question whether she remains a target for terrorists.

Beckett’s three police protection officers work in shifts to ensure her safety in London and at her Derby home.

Her refusal to relinquish the perk contrasts with the approach of former cabinet colleagues, many of whom dropped their protection at the earliest opportunity.

Des Browne, who stepped down as defence secretary last October, gave up his security at Christmas. Charles Clarke, the former home secretary, kept his protection officers for just two months after leaving office.

When Beckett was environment secretary she came under fire for using the Queen’s flight to travel to Brussels instead of using Eurostar.

She left government for the back benches in June 2007 after Tony Blair stepped down as prime minister, but returned to the front bench last October as a housing minister who can attend cabinet.

A Labour source said: “It is unbelievable that Margaret still has her police protection so long after leaving the Foreign Office. If someone like Des, who was defence secretary until last autumn and arguably a much bigger target, can give up his after a couple of months, how can Margaret justify keeping hers for two years?”

Security arrangements for former cabinet ministers are decided by an expert committee, but sources familiar with the system say that, in practice, it is the individual MP who has the strongest say over how long their security continues after they step down.

A spokeswoman for Beckett said: “It is our policy not to comment on protective security arrangements and their associated costs for any individual. The security arrangements for all cabinet ministers are kept under constant review on a risk-managed basis.”

Car perk

SIX former premiers and ministers have been allowed to retain a government car after leaving office, according to Cabinet Office figures.

Those who have received police protection after stepping down include Roy Mason, who was Northern Ireland secretary in 1976-79. He is believed still to keep a special branch officer after receiving death threats.

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