Exclusive:Angus Robertson moved out of Edinburgh constituency ahead of tough fight to keep seat
The senior SNP minister has been told to be ‘honest’ with voters after moving out of his Edinburgh Central constituency
Angus Robertson moved out of his Edinburgh Central constituency more than two years ago but did not update the Scottish government website for 18 months, The Scotsman has learned.
The senior SNP minister claimed more than £1,500 to pay for more than 100 rail journeys between Linlithgow and Edinburgh, records show.
According to Scottish government records, seen by The Scotsman, Mr Robertson started claiming for rail journeys from Linlithgow to Edinburgh as far back as November 2023 as part of routine expenses claims by ministers.
In total, the senior SNP figure has claimed for 138 journeys between November 2023 and February 2026, the last available records.
It comes as Mr Robertson faces a potential three-way battle to keep hold of his seat, and risks failing to be re-elected after being placed in fourth place on the Lothians list by the party.
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Mr Robertson’s official biography on the Scottish government website stated that “Angus lives in Edinburgh Central with his wife Jennifer, daughter Saoirse and two labradoodles: Freyja and Marnie”.
But internet archive tools show that Mr Robertson did not update his biography until April 2025 - some 18 months after beginning to commute to Edinburgh from Linlithgow.
The amendment to his biography was made less than a month before Mr Robertson was re-selected to defend his Edinburgh Central constituency seat for the SNP. Mr Robertson’s official website still states that he “lives in Edinburgh”.
Earlier this month, Mr Robertson was heckled at an Edinburgh Central hustings as he denied that he has only made himself available to speak to constituents virtually and at select times.
In video footage posted on social media, Mr Robertson responded to an apparent accusation he has not been available to constituents.
He said: “The office is open. I have been available. I have had more than 7,000 cases and I have seen, literally, hundreds of people in surgeries.”
One constituent can be heard intervening, arguing that “it says on your website that you’re only available for Zoom meetings”, claiming that “you don’t make any effort to engage with the public”.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Taxpayers have been funding Angus Robertson's jaunts around the world for years. He treats public money like his own, and this just underlines that.
"There are serious questions for Angus Robertson to answer here.
"Why did it take so long for his official biography to be updated to clarify that he no longer lives locally? And why did he not see fit to be transparent with his own constituents?”
She added: “It is disrespectful for Angus Robertson to attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes.
“He should explain why he has failed to be honest and confirm that he will respect taxpayers' money.”
Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh Central Jo Mowat said: “Angus Robertson was clearly reluctant to let the voters in Edinburgh Central know he’d moved out of the city, but obviously had no such qualms when it came to claiming public money for his train fares.
“If he no longer wants to live in Edinburgh, he should at least be honest with voters about it.”
The SNP candidate does have ties to Edinburgh Central, having grown up in the Stockbridge area of the city.
An SNP spokesman said: “Angus has represented Edinburgh Central as a hard-working MSP for five years, and is seeking people's support to continue his work to support people with the cost of living, improve the NHS and deliver the fresh start of independence.”
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