SNP Minister Accused of Cover-Up After Emails Contradict Testimony on Ferry Gas Leak

Scottish minister Stephen Flynn is facing accusations of a cover-up after emails revealed his office was informed about a significant gas leak on the MV Glen Sannox ferry before he told a parliamentary committee he had not been briefed on the incident. The BBC reported that a faulty valve aboard the CalMac ferry released enough methane to fill a four-bedroom house while 82 passengers were on board, a situation that was not disclosed for over a year.

Flynn, who holds the Transport portfolio and is considered a potential successor to SNP leader John Swinney, was questioned by Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) last month about the incident. During the session, he stated that he had not been briefed on the matter and, when asked about not seeing news reports, replied that he was 'Facetiming my kids.'

However, emails released under freedom of information rules show that officials sent updates to Flynn's office in advance of his committee appearance. One email, sent at 8:48 a.m. on September 9, alerted his office to a news report and outlined Transport Scotland's position on potential committee questions. Minutes later, at 9:04 a.m., another email described the June 2025 incident as a 'critical failure' and offered additional details. Flynn appeared before the committee at 9:15 a.m., 27 minutes after the first email was sent.

Both emails were copied to other staff, including Transport Scotland officials Mary Docherty and Chris Wilcock, who were present at the committee hearing with Flynn. When questioned by committee chairman Willie Rennie about the incident, Flynn stated, 'The specific news story to which you are referring is one I would have to go and familiarise myself with.' He later insisted, 'I was not briefed on this incident.'

Transport Scotland has maintained that the emails constituted a 'draft media statement' and did not amount to a 'formal briefing.' A spokesperson for the organization stated, 'As the timestamp notes, a draft media statement was sent to Mr Flynn's office shortly before he arrived at the committee and this was not shared with him. A high level media statement does not constitute formal briefing, which the Cabinet Secretary received later.' The statement also noted that the previous Cabinet Secretary for Transport had been briefed on the issue the previous year.

Willie Rennie, a Liberal Democrat MSP, commented that the minister was 'only making it worse for himself,' adding, 'We now have the solid proof there was briefing from officials, we have seen the evidence, so there is no point in denying the truth.' He expressed concern that Flynn 'seems to have attempted a cover-up, dragging in officials and Transport Scotland.'

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay called for Flynn to refer himself to the independent advisers on the ministerial code. Findlay stated, 'Stephen Flynn should have admitted that he had simply failed to do his job properly. But instead, this bombshell new evidence suggests that he conspired with officials to execute a sleekit, skin-saving cover-up.'