C'MON REF EXPLAIN YOURSELF

Ross urged to give emergency statement on 'dodgy' claims

- ANDREW GUINN

DOUGLAS Ross has been urged to make an emergency statement at Holyrood to explain expenses his amid allegations he was claiming for trips to act as a football linesman.

The SNP says the Scottish Tory leader must "answer questions" about MP expenses claims he made while carrying out lucrative work as a match official which were hushed up by worried aides.

Our sister paper The Sunday Mail revealed yesterday that Ross's team identified 28 "dodgy" claims he made to Westminster after being confronted about possible rule-breaking.

Ross billed the taxpayer for flights from London to Glasgow and Edinburgh, where he was working as an assistant ref in top-flight games.

Expenses watchdogs were given the impression he was simply returning to his Moray constituency.

They were all wrongly classed as "London constituency" with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

SNP campaign director Stewart Hosie said: "Douglas Ross must make an urgent statement to the Scottish Parliament about his expenses - and answer questions about these worrying reports.