Holyrood last night rejected the idea that some MSPs would become "second-class citizens" as its members voted through a new package of allowances that would allow better pay for staff.

Holyrood last night rejected the idea that some MSPs would become "second-class citizens" as its members voted through a new package of allowances that would allow better pay for staff.

Former Liberal Democrat Minister Ross Finnie spoke out strongly against the idea that constituency members might receive greater allowances than regional members, saying he found this offensive and contrary to the principles that "all members are equal".

The West of Scotland regional MSP added: "I will not support a proposition that, on the basis of no evidence, classes me as a second-class citizen."

The long-standing differences between MSPs took up almost all of the 30-minute debate.

At the last Scottish elections, MSPs were voted in under first-past-the-post rules in constituencies and then through proportional representation in wider regions.

Sir Alan Langlands was appointed by Holyrood to review the arrangement.

He recommended scrapping the £11,400 package for Edinburgh homes and called for a maximum sum of £62,000 for staff salaries of constituency MSPs and a limit of £45,000 for their regional counterparts.

Labour MSP Tom McCabe - speaking on behalf of the parliament's corporate body - backed Sir Alan's report, but called for a new review of the split-level allowances..

He also backed Sir Alan's recommendations to cut travel allowances to 40p a mile in line with the "burden" faced by the general public.

MSPs debated reforms to their allowances system, including the controversial provision which enables some to buy homes in Edinburgh at taxpayers' expense.