Scottish Tory leader urged to explain Westminster travel expenses claims

DOUGLAS Ross was today urged to set out the details of expenses claims he made while working as a linesman.

First Minister John Swinney said there are “serious issues” raised by reports that the Scottish Tory leader made 28 claims at Westminster as he travelled ahead of undertaking footy work.

It has emerged that Mr Ross lodged expenses claims for flights between London to Glasgow and Edinburgh before working in his second job as an SFA whistler.

The claims came to light amid anger over the decision taken for Mr Ross to replace David Duguid as the Tory candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.

Speaking about the issue while campaigning in Paisley on Sunday, Mr Swinney said: “I think Douglas Ross has got to set out all of the information about this particular issue.

“I’m not going to jump to conclusions about people. I don’t know the details about this, but this raises very, very significant concerns.

“Douglas Ross is normally the first to be out of the stables demanding that everybody sets out all of the information, so I think Mr Ross should do that right away because the story raises very significant and serious issues of the potential misuse of public funds.”

Mr Ross denied suggestions that concerns were raised with him over the claims by members of his team at Westminster.

He said: “Nobody spoke to me about this. I have only ever claimed expenses related to my role as a Member of Parliament.

“These have all been agreed by IPSA but I have no issue with them being scrutinised again.”