IRVINE’S MP says her ‘business class’ flights are saving the taxpayers money.

Dr Philippa Whitford returned a £14,426 expenses bill for ‘business/club’ flights to and from Westminster during the 2015/16 session.

That accounted for 38 trips most of which between Glasgow and London - all of which but two were economy flights.

The SNP politicians at Westminster were the highest 44 claimants of ‘business/club’ flights with some of Dr Whitford’s tickets costing up to £500.

But the Central Ayrshire MP says the tickets being classed as business flights are misleading and are actually saving the taxpayer money.

According to Dr Whitford, the Chambers Travel boarding passes do not entitle her to plusher seats and instead offer an open return
journey.

In total, Dr Whitford lodged £62,444.88 in expenses for her first full year as an MP. Travel accounted for the bulk of the SNP politician’s expenses claims with £22,287.59.

Accommodation totalled £17,582.59 while bills of £12,400 and £4,181.45 were submitted for office and staffing costs respectively.

Speaking about the flight claims, Dr Whitford said: “The flight is all the same class. 

“Many members book a flexible ticket as it is very rare not to have to change flight time either flying down to or home from London, as the business of the House often changes at short notice. 

“Booking a flexible ticket has, therefore, always been the advice given to us by the Travel Office as a fixed ticket would have to be replaced on the day at great cost and would, therefore, cost the tax payer substantially more.”