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A furious row has erupted amid claims John Swinney turned down cheap flights to the World Cup in favour of business class tickets costing taxpayers almost £18,000. Scotland’s First Minister switched from a £1,000 per head Scottish FA charter flight from Glasgow to Boston to British Airways’ business class travel from Heathrow costing a reported £17,893.

Mr Swinney’s private secretary reportedly signed off on the travel arrangements, with the SNP leader and his aides splashing over £45,000 of taxpayers’ cash on flights ahead of Scotland’s opening game against Haiti on June 14.

Four weeks before flying to the US, a SNP official emailed football bosses to say seats on the charter flight were not required.

It is believed “essential” business in the Scottish Parliament was to blame and Private Secretary John Webster signed off an exemption on travel rules so the First Minister could fly in business class.

Mr Swinney’s Chief of Staff, Colin McAllister, flew with them, according to reports in The Times and The Scottish Sun.

Scottish Conservative MSP, Stephen Kerr, demanded answers from Holyrood. He called for an investigation, arguing the “facts” raise “serious” questions about “basic” financial controls in the Scottish Government.

In a letter posted on X, Mr Kerr said: “The Scottish Government’s own published figures show that the flights for the First Minister and Mr Webster cost £17,893 each, while Mr McAllister’s flights cost £9,864….

“I find it very difficult to understand how any properly run organisation could permit a financial control to operate in this way.”

He said there must be a “clear” separation between those who seek or benefit from “exceptional” spending and the person who signs off on it.

The MSP added that if there was no separation, then questions would be raised over governance, conflicts of interest and stewardship of public money.

Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: “Swinney must come clean on how he can justify leaving taxpayers with such a large bill.

“This sums up John Swinney and the SNP’s blatant disregard for taxpayers’ money during their two decades in charge.”

The SNP and Scottish Government have been approached for comment.

A spokesperson from the Scottish Government told The Scottish Sun: “The First Minister’s US programme was structured to enable him to fulfil his parliamentary obligations.”