Michael Gove has been holding a throwaway coffee cup after pledging to cut the use of throwaway plastics.

The Environment Secretary arrived for the Cabinet meeting yesterday holding a Pret Christmas cup with a plastic lid.

Most of these cups cannot be recycled because of their plastic lining.

Pret encourages users to bring their own cups and offers a 25p discount for those who do.

The Telegraph has contacted a representative for Michael Gove for comment.

Sue Hayman, Labour’s shadow environment secretary, told The Sun: "It’s clear that what Michael Gove says and what Michael Gove does on the environment are two different things."