£70k SCANDAL OF THE JETSET MSPS
Politicians line up to jump on planes despite declaring a climate emergency
FREQUENT flyer MSPs are charging the taxpayer for short flights to London, undermining claims they are tackling a climate emergency.
Tories repeatedly charged taxpayers for round trips from Edinburgh and Glasgow to London, according to Record analysis of annual expenses.
Tory environment spokesman Maurice Golden claimed multiple flights between Edinburgh and London.
Overall, 308 claims were made by MSPs for flights last year, totalling £70,783. The majority were to island constituencies where there are not always realistic alternatives.
The number of short hops from Scotland to England raised concerns about the impact on the environment.
The fastest rail connection between Edinburgh and London takes four hours. Flights take 80 minutes, plus time travelling to the airport and going through security.
Golden charged for two return flights from Edinburgh to London City, costing £147.33 and £156.10.
He also submitted receipts for single fares between the airports on two occasions.
He said: “It is standard practice for MSPs of all parties to travel to Westminster to discuss Scottish issues with MPs and stakeholders when needed.”
Other Tories using a plane to reach London included Alexander Stewart, Michelle Ballantyne, Donald Cameron, Jamie Green and Miles Briggs.
Interim Scots Tory leader Jackson Carlaw claimed about £760 flying between Glasgow and London.
The Greens were the only party not to claim for flights.
The SNP ran up high bills mainly getting to islands from the central belt.
Former minister Alex Neil claimed four flights between Glasgow and London.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard registered a claim for a return trip between Glasgow and Heathrow.
The Lib Dems made among the highest claims to travel to hard-to-reach constituencies.
Some MSPs are still claiming taxis to go less than a mile from the Scottish Parliament to Edinburgh Waverley railway station.
Full expenses claims show MSPs claimed almost £17million last year, up by £630,000.