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Ethics probe demanded over John Swinney's £18k business class World Cup flights after rules were bent to approve them

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026 · last updated 22 September 2026.

John Swinney, Scottish First Minister, who flew business class to Boston for £17,893 while a £1,000 SFA charter seat went unused, with critics branding his "minimise costs" claim "disrespectful.
John Swinney, Scottish First Minister, who flew business class to Boston for £17,893 while a £1,000 SFA charter seat went unused, with critics branding his "minimise costs" claim "disrespectful.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney is under pressure to face an ethics inquiry after spending £18,000 in taxpayers' money on business class British Airways flights to the World Cup, even though a £1,000-per-head seat on the SFA's charter plane was on offer. The rule exemption that cleared the upgrade was authorised by Swinney's own private secretary John Webster, pushing the combined bill for Swinney and his aides beyond £45,000. Swinney defended the decision by saying business class was necessary to meet his First Minister's Questions obligations, and that he had tried to 'minimise costs'.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay branded the upgrade something that 'utterly stinks' and called it an apparent breach of the rules.

Webster is reported to have personally amended the travel rules to sanction the expenditure, prompting questions over who had oversight of the process.

MoreThe TimesEthics advisers urged to investigate John Swinney’s World Cup flightsmsn.comJohn Swinney's World Cup excuse branded 'disrespectful'thetimes.comSwinney’s World Cup flights approved by official who tweaked rules - The Timesmsn.comFury as SNP's John Swinney rejects cheap flights for £18k tickets at taxpayers' expensemsn.comJohn Swinney defends £45,000 business-class flights to World Cup
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