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| 1. Author: Buspasspar Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 14:29 Should be made to pay every penny back .. disgusting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqe385qen2o We are forever shaped by the Children we once were Reply |
| 2. Author: The One Who Knocks Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 16:49 I`m in two minds about this. It seems excessive but I don`t begrudge the First Minister of Scotland travelling business class. I`d actually be surprised if he or any government minister, UK or Holyrood travelled economy. Kudos to those who do but but as for the most senior elected politician in Scotland goes I`m not sure he should be flying long distance in window seat 144 row K. Now is there an argument that they shouldn`t have been there in the first place? Maybe unless it tied in with other engagements that pressed the interests of Scotland. And although my eyes were open They just might as well be closed Reply |
| 3. Author: AdamAntsParsStripe Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 17:29 There was a business meeting while over there but I guess that will be seen as a smokescreen. The First Minister is in a no win situation really. On the one hand, he’s handsomely paid and could afford his own flight for what was effectively a trip to the football. I believe Stephen Flynn paid his own costs for ticket and flights for example but I don’t think anyone should begrudge a first minister regardless of party representing his country. I’m not as sure on the other hand about Maree Todd and Angus Robertson getting the same VIP treatment. Zwei Pints Bier und ein Päckchen Chips bitte  Reply |
| 4. Author: wee eck Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 17:49 `I’m not as sure on the other hand about Maree Todd and Angus Robertson getting the same VIP treatment.` Angus Robertson going along for the ride would be a scandal. He lost his seat at the May election. Post Edited (Thu 20 Aug 18:12) Reply |
| 5. Author: ipswichpar Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 18:02 Maree Todd went economy didn`t she? It was the SPADs that went business class. Reply |
| 6. Author: The One Who Knocks Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 18:29 SPADs Ipswich? And although my eyes were open They just might as well be closed Reply |
| 7. Author: wee eck Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 18:47 SPecial ADvisers. Reply |
| 8. Author: Dave_1885 Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 19:00 Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. He’s the First Minister of Scotland. Scotland is, in its own rights, a sovereign footballing nation. To claim he shouldn’t be there and it be paid for by the government/taxes is just typical behaviour of the media and their fan boys. It’s a non story. Reply |
| 9. Author: Tenruh Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 19:11 wee eck, Thu 20 Aug 17:49 Maree Todd also list her constituency seat but managed to get to the top of the list so got re-elected by default, which in my opinion is wrong. If the electorate rejected you you shouldn`t be sneaking in on the list. Reply |
| 10. Author: wee eck Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 19:21 Not sure what the relevance of that is to the topic, but are you saying we should abolish the `list system`? It`s supposed to make the make-up of MSPs at Holyrood more representative of the electorate. Some opposition MSPs have never won an election but have been there for years. Reply |
| 11. Author: AdamAntsParsStripe Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 19:40 wee eck, Thu 20 Aug 19:21 It should be one term on the list and if you fail next time, then you are out. Too many MSP’s know full well they won’t get elected but will be safely parachuted in with all the same perks and voting rights as the rest. Zwei Pints Bier und ein Päckchen Chips bitte Reply |
| 12. Author: BouncyPar Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 19:53 Dave_1885, Thu 20 Aug 19:00 This 💯 Reply |
| 13. Author: P Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 20:10 Was curious so set AI to work (only a cursory check for hallucinations) and the numbers of heads of state attending their countries games World Cup and matches attended given below. I had to expand the criteria as only 8 heads of state attended a game involving their own country, host leaders had other obligations…. leader — country — match(es) attended: 1. Mark Carney — Canada — Canada v Qatar; World Cup Final 2. José Maria Neves — Cabo Verde — Cabo Verde v Spain 3. Andrej Plenković — Croatia — Croatia v Panama 4. Daniel Noboa — Ecuador — Ecuador v Côte d’Ivoire 5. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé — Haiti — Haiti v Scotland 6. King Abdullah II — Jordan — Jordan v Algeria 7. Claudia Sheinbaum — Mexico — World Cup Final 8. King Willem-Alexander — Netherlands — Netherlands v Sweden; Curaçao v Ecuador 9. Jonas Gahr Støre — Norway — Norway v Iraq 10. Santiago Peña — Paraguay — USA v Paraguay 11. António José Seguro — Portugal — Colombia v Portugal 12. John Swinney — Scotland — Haiti v Scotland 13. King Felipe VI — Spain — World Cup Final 14. Pedro Sánchez — Spain — World Cup Final 15. Guy Parmelin — Switzerland — Switzerland v Algeria 16. Donald Trump — United States — World Cup Final 17. King Philippe — Belgium — Belgium v Spain 17 leaders from 16 countries out of 48 countries Reply |
| 14. Author: ipswichpar Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 21:12 It would be equally interesting to find out how often Swinney goes abroad for work, and how many times he has gone to the US previously. Or some understanding of the value of the meetings out there. Did it cover the £100k cost and the opportunity cost of them all going missing for a week? This does feel like a convenient jolly. Not sure what John Webster was doing out there. There was one guy at my work identified as spending more than 100k in a year on expenses once. He got punted. Reply |
| 15. Author: Wotsit Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 21:18 I`d be concerned if he had travelled using a private passenger jet given to him by Kuwait without explanation then hid in a catering truck on the way home. A head of government travelling business class (or first class even) on a scheduled flight seems pretty reasonable to me. “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” Post Edited (Thu 20 Aug 21:18) Reply |
| 16. Author: Jimmy riddell Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 21:49 I don’t question his trip to the USA but I do the cost. To pay almost £18k for a return business class flight suggests a last minute reservation on an already busy route to Boston. Even a last minute economy fare was in the thousands as there was little availability at that time. I know as I checked. The issue is clearly one of lack of forward planning or a laissez faire attitude to public expenditure. Reply |
| 17. Author: wee eck Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 22:01 I don`t recall any indication prior to the World Cup that JS had any interest in football unlike, say, Neil Gray or Stephen Flynn. No doubt he enjoyed his trip and the experience of being at the WC but it`s just as likely he saw it as opportunity to promote Scotland and its business. It would hardly be appropriate for the First Minister of Scotland to travel with the riffraff at such a busy time. Post Edited (Thu 20 Aug 22:02) Reply |
| 18. Author: jake89 Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 22:41 Politicians take the piss tbh but isn`t it weird how they`ve not published how Starmer`s ticket cost? Reply |
| 19. Author: parsmad68 Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 23:08 Divide & conquer. Non story. The revenue alone from Americans coming to Scotland on the back of the World Cup wipes this out. Reply |
| 20. Author: Jeffery Date: Thu 20th Aug 2026. 23:34 It does seem poorly organised for the price to be that high. That being said, if the actual leader of a country can`t fly business or first class then who is it actually for. Reply |
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