MSPs defend frequent first-class train trips

THE Scottish Parliament may have been established to bring politicians closer to the people, but a minority of its representatives would rather avoid the great unwashed when it comes to travelling by train.

A Scotland on Sunday survey has revealed that more than 10% of our MSPs regularly travel first class as they commute from their constituencies to Holyrood.

Frequent first-class travellers from Glasgow to Edinburgh include Labour MSPs Wendy Alexander, the former leader; Bill Butler; Patricia Ferguson; Trish Godman, Charlie Gordon; Ken McIntosh; Frank McAveety, Pauline McNeill; and Irene Oldfather.

According to their 2007/08 expenses claims, they all spent £610 on a flexipass that enables them to make 50 first-class journeys, eschewing the cheaper £393 standard-class option. Ferguson, who is married to Butler, bought two first-class flexipasses enabling her to make 100 journeys in the lap of luxury.

The taste for the high life was not confined to Labour. Annabel Goldie, the Conservative leader, has claimed expenses for 26 journeys between Edinburgh to either Glasgow or Bishopton, forking out £29.80 for a first-class return ticket rather than the £16.90 standard-class option.

A Conservative spokesman said: "Back in 1999, Annabel travelled in standard class and found it impossible to read briefs and deal with parliamentary business with any degree of privacy. She travels first class because this enables her to work on the train."

But the explanation failed to placate Mark Wallace of the Taxpayers' Alliance. "If MSPs would like to travel first class, they should be willing to top up standard-class season tickets out of their own money. With MSPs able to insulate themselves from the true cost of rail travel ... it is little wonder they often don't seem to understand the problems ordinary people face paying sky-rocketing prices."

Another one of Scotland's 129 MSPs to splash out on a £610 flexipass was Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow. He also cited the need to work on confidential papers in privacy as a reason for first-class travel.

Government ministers and eight senior civil servants are also entitled to use limousines. The most recent figures show that the SNP Scottish Government's six cabinet secretaries plus the transport minister made 1,700 limo trips over a six-month period. In June Alex Salmond, the First Minister, was criticised when he took both a chauffeur-driven car and plane to Manchester to see Rangers in the Uefa Cup Final. He flew down, but had already sent a limo ahead to pick up the tickets and drive him back.

Of the major parties, the SNP appeared more willing to slum it – although Brian Adam, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen North, bought five £73 first-class return tickets to Aberdeen and Andrew Welsh, the SNP member for Angus, took a couple of first-class trips to Arbroath.

A SNP spokesman said: "The first-class section offers them the opportunity to work in an environment that helps protect the confidentiality of constituents' cases."