They won't even pay 42p for a pint of milk!

Further to my earlier story on MPs’ travel expenses, Scottish MPs have just had their expenses claims revealed. There must have been one or two MPs feeling very embarrassed whilst they knocked back their cornflakes this morning and had a good read of the Scotsman. Yes, I’m talking about you Mr. Jamie Stone – for claiming back 42p for a pint of milk. I know, it’s not going to bankrupt the economy, but if this goon can not even pay for his own pint of milk without passing the cost on, you have to be worried about what else he is willing to shift on the tax payer. Nicol Stephen, the deputy first minister, claimed £4.79 for a map - of his own constituency. Good to know he is familiar with the area.

However, while those two can fight it out to the most pointless claim award, our real winner north of the border has to be Rosemary Byrne, the former SSP MSP and now a Solidarity MSP. She charged £63,338.56 to the taxpayer in the 2005-6 financial year, more than any other MSP. But don’t worry, as her excuse makes clear she is well worth it - "I work so hard…I am average in spending if you take staff costs out”. Well at least you work hard for you £60k “bonus”. And just in case you are beginning to buy her feeble whining, she also claims the prize for most pointless claim award (sorry Mr Stephen and Mr Stone for getting your hopes up). Rosemary Byrne actually had the gall to claim 15p for a phone call. She is clearly happy with charging the tax payer for just about anything. Do these people have no shame – spend your own money!

But the real headline figure we should be worried about is that of £9.4m. That is the grand total these system abusing drains on tax payers’ money have claimed for. An increase of nearly £700k on last year. An 8% rise, yet inflation sits at 2.7% a year. Blair Gibbs from the tax payers alliance commented, “Greater openness has highlighted abuses of the system, but it has also made clear the sheer scale of the bills we now have to pick up for big government”. Jack McConnell, the First Minister, had called for restraint on expenses claims and misuse of public money. Looks like they weren’t listening, but then again that does seem to be the theme at the moment.