Transport Secretary Flynn Informed of Ferry Gas Leak Before Committee Testimony, Emails Reveal
Newly released correspondence suggests Stephen Flynn received briefing materials about a methane leak on the MV Glen Sannox prior to denying knowledge to lawmakers.
Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn was alerted to a gas leak on a ferry before he testified to a Holyrood committee that he had no knowledge of the incident, according to emails obtained through a freedom of information request.
The incident involved a potentially explosive release of methane on the CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox, which occurred on June 3, 2025, but was only publicly disclosed last month. The BBC reported that a faulty valve aboard the ferry released enough methane to fill a four-bedroom house while 82 passengers were on board.
During his appearance before the transport committee last month, Flynn stated he had not seen news reports about the leak because he was "Facetiming my kids" and later insisted he had "not been briefed" on the matter. However, emails released on Thursday indicate that officials sent him updates in advance, warning him he might be questioned about the leak.
One email, sent at 8:48 a.m. on the day of his committee appearance, drew the "Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport's" attention to a news report about the incident. This email detailed Transport Scotland's anticipated position if questions arose during the committee session. Minutes later, at 9:04 a.m., another email was sent providing an update on the "critical failure" described in the June 2025 incident and offering additional points.
Flynn appeared before the committee at 9:15 a.m., approximately 27 minutes after the first email was sent. Both emails were also copied to other staff, including Transport Scotland officials Mary Docherty and Chris Wilcock, who testified alongside Flynn.
Committee chairman Willie Rennie, a Liberal Democrat MSP, stated that "the civil service tried to tell Stephen Flynn about the ferry gas leak but he didn’t bother to read it." He added that despite the incident happening the previous year, being reported on the radio that morning, and appearing on the BBC website, Flynn remained "oblivious" when questioned.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Tim Eagle criticized Flynn's performance, calling the revelation "bombshell" and questioning whether Flynn was "so arrogant he felt he didn’t need to read a brief beforehand or could he not be bothered?"
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland stated that "As this FoI makes clear, the Cabinet Secretary was not briefed on this issue before his appearance at the Transport Committee." The spokesperson clarified that a "high level media statement" sent to Flynn's office shortly before his committee appearance "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 last year at the time of the incident.
The MV Glen Sannox is the first UK-built ship capable of running on liquefied natural gas. The methane leak occurred over 12 minutes during a sailing from Brodick, in Arran, to Troon, in Ayrshire. Gas alarms were triggered in the vessel's generator room when some of the released methane was drawn into a vent.