GLASGOW, Scotland ? The British MP who chairs the UK Bermuda Parliamentary group has come under fierce attack for his high expense claims, including a ?lavish? trip to the Island for the 2003 General Election.

It was revealed yesterday that Ian Davidson has the 15th highest expense claim of all of Britain?s 658 MPs, racking up $272,900.

Mr. Davidson prompted an inquiry last year into Prince Andrew?s use of an RAF helicopter to ferry him to golf matches.

The revelation about the Labour MP?s high expense claims prompted Britain?s influential right wing Daily Mail newspaper to carry a story yesterday attacking him under the headline: ?Travelling like a king, the MP who criticises Royals?.

The paper reported: ?The MP who prompted an investigation into Prince Andrew?s costly use of RAF helicopters was himself exposed yesterday as one of the biggest drains on public cash in the (House of) Commons.

?One of the most outspoken critics of Royal profligacy, he has clocked up lavish trips to Australia, Japan, Bermuda and New York.?

In the Register of Members? interests in the House of Commons, Mr. Davidson states that on his 11-day trip to Bermuda in July, 2003 to observe the General Election, the Progressive Labour Party paid for his accommodation.

The Register does not specify how much the accommodation cost or where it was.

Mr. Davidson was back on the Island in September and October last year for a week-long trip by an all-party group of British parliamentarians.

At a reception held for the group at Alaska Hall, a PLP vice-chair referred to Mr. Davidson as ?our very own MP at Westminster?.

Mr. Davidson travelled the world as chairman of the all-party rugby union group and as a member of the all-party football club. On some of these trips, private companies picked up the tab.

As well as being chair of the all-party Bermuda group at Westminster, the globe-trotting MP is also chair of the all-party Namibia group and vice-chair of the all-party German group.

Yesterday, he defended his expense claims, saying they were high because as an MP for Glasgow, he has to make the 500 mile trip to London to attend the House. He told the newspaper: ?All my travel with the rugby and football teams is listed openly in the Member?s register and none has involved public contributions. I receive the same salary as every other MP. I have never used an RAF helicopter at public expense, except once on a Parliamentary visit to the Falklands when there was no alternative.? Following a complaint from Mr. Davidson, the Comptroller and Auditor General Sir John Bourn ordered an investigation into Prince Andrew?s use of public money.

The findings, published last week, were that the taxpayer footed a bill for $60,365 in one year, flying the prince on an RAF helicopter to play golf at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews. And there was a $5,657 bill when the Royal took a helicopter on a 50-mile trip for lunch with Arab dignitaries, On another occasion, he used a helicopter for a 35-mile trip to visit a baby lotion factory.

Sir John said: ?As far as I am concerned, it comes across as viewing the public purse as bottomless and that he has been extravagant and wasteful.?