SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has flatly rejected claims that he was told about a gas leak on a Scottish ferry before appearing in front of a committee, calling the suggestion simply “not true”.
The row centres on whether Flynn had been informed about the incident prior to giving evidence, raising questions about transparency and what senior SNP figures knew and when.
Flynn was firm in his denial, pushing back against the claim directly and showing no signs of backing down from his position. The allegation, if true, would have suggested he withheld relevant information during his committee appearance, something he says did not happen.
The ferry saga has been a long-running headache for the SNP, with the troubled CalMac and CMAL vessel contracts having dogged the party for years. Cost overruns, delays, and a string of technical problems with Scottish ferries have kept the issue firmly in the headlines, and any fresh incident is guaranteed to attract scrutiny.
A gas leak on one of the vessels was always going to raise eyebrows given the backdrop of ongoing problems with Scotland’s ferry network. The question of who knew what, and when, has become central to how opposition parties are choosing to attack the Scottish Government and senior SNP figures over their handling of the situation.
Flynn’s denial is a direct attempt to shut down that line of attack before it gains traction. Whether it succeeds will likely depend on what further details emerge about the timeline of events and internal communications around the incident.
Opposition politicians in Scotland have not been shy about pressing the SNP on ferry-related issues, and this latest flashpoint is unlikely to be the last word on the matter. Committees at Holyrood and Westminster have both been keeping a close eye on the state of Scotland’s island connectivity, and the pressure on the SNP to provide clear answers shows no sign of letting up.
For Flynn, who has been working to raise the profile of the SNP’s Westminster operation, the last thing he needs is a distraction over claims of being less than straightforward with a committee. His swift and blunt rebuttal suggests he is well aware of the damage such a suggestion could do if left unanswered.
The ferry network remains one of the most politically sensitive topics in Scottish public life, particularly for island communities who depend on reliable sea links for everything from getting to work to accessing medical care. Every new problem, delay, or controversy adds to the frustration felt by those communities and gives critics of the Scottish Government fresh ammunition.
How this specific row develops will depend on whether any evidence surfaces to contradict Flynn’s account. For now, he is standing his ground.