Lingerie entrepreneur Michelle Mone will lead a Westminster drive to boost start-up companies in poor areas.

Already tipped to become a Tory peer, the staunch unionist aims to travel "from Land's End to John O'Groats" to find ways to develop entrepreneurial flair in disadvantaged parts of Britain.

Ms Mone's move into politics comes after she sold off most of her loss-making lingerie firm after a bitter rift with her husband and business partner Michael.

She was unveiled as the head of a review of start-ups by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who has a keen interest in Ms Mone's home neighbourhoods in Glasgow's East End.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "I am delighted Michelle has agreed to lead this review.

"There’s no-one I can think of who is better qualified to help young entrepreneurs from deprived backgrounds to turn a good idea into a flourishing business.

"We used to be known as a nation of shopkeepers. I want Michelle to report back to me on how we can encourage people of all backgrounds to take up this entrepreneurial spirit."

Ms Mone, 43, said: "My philosophy is that it does not matter where you are from, what education you have, or if you are from an affluent background or not, you can make it if you work hard, set your goals and never give up.

"I’ll be travelling across the UK from John O’Groats to Land’s End to talk to and listen to people and groups from all backgrounds.

"I want to learn about the barriers they are facing and what changes are needed."

Ms Mone made her name as the public face of her Ultimo brand of lingerie, including trademark push-up bras with "chicken fillet" gel implants.

She had set the firm up with Mr Mone in 1991 and by 2001 was said to be worth £10m in the Sunday Times rich list. That figure was to rise to £20m by 2006.

The couple, however, split acrimoniously in 2011 with Mr Mone setting up home with Samantha Bunn, formerly head of design at Ultimo.

Her company MJM International suffered heavy losses of £780,000 in its last year - 2013 - before passing its assets to its parent company, Ultimo Brands, which also made a loss, and ceasing to trade.

Both businesses only published the abbreviated accounts of a "small company".

Last year Ms Mone announced she had sold 80 per cent of Ultimo Brands to a Sri Lankan firm and described her years at the helm of the business as a "roller coaster".

Highs included the publicity coup of securing Rachel Hunter, former wife of Rod Stewart, as the face of Ultimo to replace the rocker's new wife Penny Lancaster.

There were lows too. One saw her ordered to pay nearly £16,000 in compensation to a worker who found a listening device in a vase of artificial flowers in his office after an employment tribunal.

Ms Mone has been a vociferous opponent of Scottish independence, threatening to leave the country if there was a Yes vote. Earlier this year, despite the No victory, Ms Mone announced she was quitting Scotland, blaming vitriol from nationalists on social media.

An SNP spokeswoman said: "We support efforts to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds – but this latest effort from the Tories is fatally undermined by their cynical attacks on the poorest in society through their savage welfare cuts."