A row erupted today over the amount of cash First Minister Alex Salmond has claimed from Westminster.

Mr Salmond - who is also the MP for Banff and Buchan - had claimed a total of £130,364.33 in expenses from Westminster since April last year.

Labour accused the First Minister of "taking the taxpayer for a ride" - claiming he had only been at at the House of Commons six times since he became First Minister in May and had voted 18 times.

But the Nationalists hit back and said Mr Salmond had voted in a higher percentage of votes than any other First Minister who had also been an MP.

The figures showed that Mr Salmond claimed £13,988.98 renting a flat, and £84,664.94 for staff.

Incidental expenses amounted to £18,591.34, while Mr Salmond's travel expenses were £1,480.80. He also claimed £2,081.85 in travel for his staff and £293.50 in travel expenses for his wife Moira.

He claimed £2,221.84 under the communication allowance, £1,017.37 for stationary, £4,768.25 for postage and £1,255.46 for computing.

But Labour claimed Mr Salmond only made six visits to the Commons since May - and added as a result his overnight stays had cost the public purse £2,333 a night.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said at that price Mr Salmond would have been cheaper staying at the Ritz hotel, claiming his costs were eight times more expensive than a standard room there.

Ms Baillie, Labour's Scottish parliamentary business spokeswoman, said: "It's a bit rich for the SNP to denounce Westminster at every turn only for Alex Salmond to claim every expense going.

"It demonstrates at best a cavalier attitude to seeking value for public money, at worst its shameless behaviour, as he barely attends the UK Parliament."

She added: "Given his attendance record at the House of Commons and the accommodation claims he has submitted for staying in London in the last year, an overnight stay at the Ritz Hotel in London would have been cheaper."

And she said: "The First Minister is taking the taxpayer for a ride when it comes to funding his Westminster office."

But a spokesman for Mr Salmond responded: "This is a pitiful effort from Labour - and a spectacular own goal.

"Mr Salmond proactively published the full details of his expenses on his website two weeks ago, and they have already been reported in the media."

The spokesman also said the First Minster had written to the Commons Speaker Michael Martin, calling for MPs to follow the example of the Scottish Parliament and publish their expenses on a quarterly basis.

The First Minister's spokesman said: "Everything is entirely open, proper, and above board."

And he added: "In this Parliament, Mr Salmond is sixth in terms of total parliamentary contributions among Scottish MPs.

"He is more active than any previous First Minister or Deputy First Minister serving a dual mandate.

"In comparing the first ten months in office of Scottish First Ministers or Deputy First Ministers serving a dual mandate, Mr Salmond has voted in a higher percentage of votes and made more Westminster contributions than any of his predecessors.

"So this attack is an embarrassing blunder."

Tory North East Scotland MSP Nanette Milne also attacked Mr Salmond over his expenses and said: "These figures are appalling.

"Alex Salmond has cost the taxpayer £23,000 for every time he has set foot in Westminster. He is treating taxpayers like a laughing stock."

She added: "Alex Salmond is still using taxpayers' money to finance his Westminster duties - a job he is clearly no longer bothered about.

"For a man so keen on referendums, he needs to give one to the people of Banff and Buchan, and stand down now."

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