Scotland’s First Minister has defended his decision to reject a £1,000 transatlantic flight to the World Cup in favour of one costing about £18,000 because it allowed him to “fulfil my parliamentary duties”.

The Scottish Sun reported over the weekend that John Swinney could have secured himself a space on the Scottish Football Association (SFA) chartered flight to Boston, but instead opted to fly business class with British Airways.

Had he flown with the SFA, Mr Swinney would have had to hand over responsibility for First Minister’s Questions to his deputy, Jenny Gilruth.

I chose to fulfil my parliamentary duties

John Swinney

The decision to take the flight was signed off by his private secretary.

Speaking to the Press Association at Edinburgh Airport on Monday, Mr Swinney said: “The reason why we did not take the SFA flight is because I thought it was important that I answer First Minister’s Questions on the Thursday afternoon and on the Tuesday the following week.

“I thought it was also important that I went to see Scotland compete in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

“That required us to undertake our travel at what was precisely the most expensive moment to try to undertake that travel.

“So I faced a simple choice – I either didn’t perform my parliamentary duties, or I went at a more expensive time.

“I chose to fulfil my parliamentary duties.”

He added: “I felt it was necessary to do all of those things – to answer questions in Parliament and go to Boston to, yes, support Scotland.

“But also to take forward investment discussions to bring jobs and employment into Scotland.

“That’s my job and that’s what I was doing.”

But despite Mr Swinney’s answer, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney’s post-election flight upgrade utterly stinks and is consistent with the SNP’s lack of respect for Scotland’s hard-pressed taxpayers.

“There would have been nothing wrong with the First Minister flying on the SFA charter flight as was originally planned.

“Had he done so, no-one would have missed him at FMQs because he never gives straight answers anyway.

“He needs to fully explain why he and his inner circle thought it was acceptable to splurge so much on their eye-wateringly expensive upgrade which is apparently in breach of the rules.”