Scottish taxpayers are facing a record-breaking bill of over £27 million for the expenses of their Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), with the total cost soaring to new heights in the last financial year.
Record-Breaking Rise in Parliamentary Costs
The total sum claimed by MSPs for the 2024-25 financial year reached a staggering £27.45 million. This represents a sharp 7.6 per cent increase from the previous year's total of £25.36 million, adding an extra £2.09 million to the public purse. This marks yet another annual record for Holyrood's expenses bill.
The surge in costs coincided with Holyrood officials increasing the maximum allowances for various expense categories. MSPs could claim up to £20,700 for Edinburgh accommodation, a rise of £1,000. The overnight hotel allowance in the city increased by £10 to £225, while the office costs budget jumped by £1,000 to £21,100. Each MSP also received a staffing budget of £156,900, up from £147,000.
The High Claimants and the Humble Claims
The largest individual expense bill came from Scottish Conservative MSP Edward Mountain, representing the Highlands and Islands, who claimed £74,145. He was followed by SNP MSP Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) with £63,058 and SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) with £61,987.
However, the published data also revealed a host of remarkably low-value claims that have drawn public attention. These included:
- Colin Beattie (SNP) claiming 79p for a bottle of bleach in September 2024.
- Angus Robertson (SNP) charging £17.99 for a replacement toilet seat in November 2024.
- Former First Minister Humza Yousaf claiming £3.02 for a sponge scourer in May 2024.
- Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claiming £11.04 for privacy film for office windows in April 2024.
- Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens claiming £32 for an electric radiator in March 2025.
Taxpayer Fury and Political Defence
The revelation has sparked fury among taxpayer groups, coming at a time when Scotland remains the highest-taxed part of the UK. Anyone earning over £30,300 this year pays more income tax than their counterparts in the rest of the country.
Callum McGoldrick, investigations campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, did not mince his words: ‘Scots will be furious to see the credit card bills of their jumped up politicians escalate while services continue to suffer. The Scottish parliament has so far delivered little else other than higher costs, greater bureaucracy and an even higher tax burden than down south. MSPs need to remember the taxpayers that fund every penny they expense.’
In response, a Scottish Parliament spokesman defended the costs, stating: ‘As with every year, staff salaries comprise the largest single expense, with £22.57 million covering staff employment in MSPs parliamentary and local offices – that’s 82.22 per cent of the total cost. The remainder covers the cost of running those offices, travel, and support for party leaders who are not in government.’
Despite this justification, the near-£27.5 million total, fuelled by increased allowances and peppered with claims for everyday household items, is set to intensify the debate over the cost of politics in Scotland and the burden placed on hard-pressed taxpayers.
