Instagram-loving MP Liz Truss has defended her use of social media and revealed it was her much-ridiculed cheese speech that prompted her take the plunge online.

Norwich Evening News: Liz Truss in the House of Commons chamberLiz Truss in the House of Commons chamber (Image: Archant)

The South West Norfolk MP and chief secretary to the Treasury said catching her daughters watching a clip of a speech she gave to Conservative Party conference in 2014 spurred her on to embrace social media.

Extracts from the speech were widely shared online with hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. The most famous quote is: 'We import two-thirds of our cheese. That. Is. A. Disgrace.'

Since January Ms Truss has switched her Instagram account to public and has gained a lot of followers – 2,229 in fact.

He account claims to lift 'the veil on life in government' but her updates are not all pictures of her crunching numbers in Number 11, Downing Street. Instead Ms Truss keeps her followers bang up to date on what she eats for her lunch, her trips to the beach and even an attempt at ice skating.

Norwich Evening News: Liz Truss ice skatingLiz Truss ice skating (Image: Archant)

Writing for The Times' Red Box she said: 'My patriotic obsession with British cheese (yes I still love it!) and my desire to sell more trotters to the Chinese had become a meme.

'When I caught my daughters watching it on YouTube at home – I decided it was time to embrace the enthusiasm! What's surprised me is how much I've enjoyed it — it's given me more freedom.'

She added: 'I can use Insta to show my passion for burgers and beaches — but I'm not telling anyone else to enjoy the same things as me.

'People growing up in Britain now have unprecedented freedom to access information, communicate across the world or just post pictures of themselves online. There's is no better place than social media to be making the case for more freedom and self-determination.

Norwich Evening News: Liz Truss shares her lunch on InstagramLiz Truss shares her lunch on Instagram (Image: Archant)

'I'm finding Treasury civil servants quite camera-shy though. Any reading this article are encouraged to book an appointment with my office.'

And Ms Truss rubbished claims she had found herself in hot water after posting pictures from inside the Palace of Westminster which is strictly forbidden: 'There's been speculation that I've been 'told off' for taking pics in forbidden places or for some of my more risqué captions. It's not true but even if it was I wouldn't stand for it. This is the new frontier and we're all just living our lives.'

Norwich Evening News: Liz Truss on InstagramLiz Truss on Instagram (Image: Archant)

Norwich Evening News: Liz Truss on a zip wireLiz Truss on a zip wire (Image: Archant)