Swinney entourage ran up £98,000 World Cup bill – Daily Business

John Swinney enjoying the World Cup business trip

First Minister John Swinney, the sports minister and their advisers spent almost £100,000 on trips to the World Cup.

Business-class flights, hotel and car hire bills amounted to £98,442, including flight costs for Mr Swinney and his private secretary John Webster which cost £17,893 each.

Flight tickets for the First Minister’s special adviser Colin McAllister cost £9,864.

Mr Swinney insisted the government had sought to “minimise” costs, and that he had taken part in trade talks in Kentucky, a whisky region.

While he and two senior officials travelled business class, Sports Minister Maree Todd and several other officials went to the US on significantly cheaper economy-class flights.

Mr Swinney and his advisers flew to Boston for Scotland’s first match and later to Miami.

Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, speaking at the Edinburgh Festival, defended the cost of the trip.

“If we want our politicians to go and sit in row 46 beside the toilets and then land in Boston and then go and engage with US government officials having done so we’ll get exactly what we deserve,” he said.

Releasing the travel expenses, the government said the US trips were made to support the national team at the World Cup as well as to hold talks on trade, tourism, culture and investment.

Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: “Nobody begrudged SNP ministers joining the Tartan Army to cheer on Scotland men’s team at their first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades, but in typical SNP fashion costs were never kept under control.”

Downing Street spent £60,000 on a private jet for Sir Keir Starmer to watch the England women’s team win Euros last summer.

The one-night trip cost £60,130, including hotels for the Prime Minister, his wife Victoria and 10 officials.

Whilst in opposition, Rachel Reeves pledged to clamp down on official use of government planes in a bid to “save millions of pounds for taxpayers.”

First Minister’s Visit to Boston (11-14 June) and Kentucky (14-15 June)

NameFlightsHotel(s)ExpensesCar hireFirst Minister£17,893£1,072£0£10,095John Webster, Private Secretary£17,893£930£0Colin McAllister, Special Adviser£9,864£1,210£28Visits & Events official£2,767£1,899£445First Minister Comms official£1,866£1,514£169Comms Media Content Manager£1,831£1,514£344Active Scotland official£2,313£1,041£177Mark Boyce (US office)£818£1,216£288US office officials£2,196£3,686£1,070

Ms Todd’s visit to Miami (22-25 June) 

Maree Todd£1,471£527£39£5,458Private Secretary£1,471£527£84Active Scotland official£1,884£702£116Mark Boyce (US office)£306£527£217US office official£353£527£94
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