Scotland’s Transport Secretary has defended John Swinney’s business class flights to the World Cup.
Stephen Flynn insisted it was important for the SNP leader to “be on his game” when he arrived in Boston for Scotland’s opening match.
Mr Swinney jetted across the Atlantic to watch the Scotland men’s national team take part in their first World Cup in 28 years in June.
According to data published by the Scottish Government under freedom-of-information legislation, almost £100,000 was spent for Mr Swinney and Scottish Government officials to visit Boston and a subsequent trip to Kentucky, along with another visit to Miami by sports minister Maree Todd for the team’s final group stage tie against Brazil.
Flights for the First Minister, his private secretary John Webster and chief of staff Colin McAllister – all business class – cost more than £45,000.
But asked about the flights as he appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Saturday, Mr Flynn said: “I find it strange that we would expect the leader of the country not to be on his game when he lands in Boston.”
The Transport Secretary had also gone to Boston to watch Scotland – albeit not on behalf of the Scottish Government – saying he took an economy flight via Dublin.
Mr Flynn added: “Put it this way, when I got into Boston I was not on my game, not just because of my economy flight, I was maybe a little bit lethargic or hungover.”
But he stressed the importance of not just Mr Swinney but his key staff arriving ready to do business.
Speaking about the First Minister, his chief of staff and private secretary, Mr Flynn told the audience: “They work all hours every single day, on stuff that we don’t even know about, putting our fires and finding solutions to things behind the scenes.
“And if they are not on top of their game, that is of greater concern to us than whether they had a good night’s sleep on a plane or not.”
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