The Herald reports that Moffat, laid the blame for the criticism it on local party opponents in her East Lothian constituency, insisting there had always been an element of the local party who had never accepted her as their MP.

Moffat’s reselection as candidate is still being reviewed by Labour's national executive following complaints of irregularities.

She told the BBC's Politics Show that she ran up her Westminster travel bill for nearly £40,000 in 2003-04 because she was spending so much time travelling back and forward to her constituency.

"When I was first elected I wanted to establish myself and impress some of the people who did not want me there in the first place," she said, adding that she had "bust a gut" travelling up and down repeatedly for this reason.

After she was first revealed as Westminster's most expensive MP in travel cost terms, Green Party activist Michael Collie demanded the breakdown under Freedom of Information to establish how this was possible and only now, after a two-year fight, has this been released.

"In the 12-month period she spent £9792 on rail fares, of which £7211 was for 26 journeys between London and Scotland. She also spent £15,712 on 51 air fares and still found time to claim £12,289 for car mileage covering 24,129 miles. There were also trips to Malta and Lisbon on parliamentary business."

"Almost all trips appeared to be first-class. After the outcry, her annual claims fell in subsequent years to around £12,000," The Herald revealed.