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26 minutes ago Andrew Kerr, Scotland political correspondent and James Delaney, BBC Scotland Getty Images Stephen Flynn denied knowing about the leak on board the Glen Sannox prior to a meeting of the transport committee last month Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn told a Holyrood committee he knew nothing about a gas leak on board a CalMac ferry, despite records showing he had been emailed about the incident. A faulty valve led to 700kg of methane gas being vented from the side of MV Glen Sannox while it was carrying passengers from Arran to Troon in June 2025. Flynn claimed he missed a BBC Scotland report on the incident as he was facetiming his children before he appeared in front of the transport committee last month.
But a briefing document released via a freedom of information (FOI) request showed Flynn was contacted about the story twice in the hours between publication and his committee appearance. Transport Scotland said the document "made clear" Flynn had "not been briefed on the issue" before his committee appearance. One email - now seen by BBC Scotland - says the following statement had been "cleared by Mr Flynn": "I was not briefed on this incident, however details were shared with the former cabinet secretary for transport on 30 June 2025, in line with agreed processes." Reacting to this, transport committee convener Willie Rennie told BBC Scotland Flynn was "only making things worse for himself".
"What is alarming is that he seems to have attempted a cover-up, dragging in officials and Transport Scotland," he said. "And if he had bothered to listen to the news in the morning before the committee session he would not have been surprised by my questions about the leaking of flammable gas on the Glen Sannox." 'Bombshell new evidence' - Findlay Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has demanded Flynn refer himself to the independent advisers on the ministerial code. He said: "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." A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "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 previous cabinet secretary for transport was briefed on the issue last year, at the time of the incident." Getty Images Willie Rennie had raised "serious concerns" about Flynn's competence as minister A "ministerial engagement briefing" issued prior to the transport committee's meeting on 9 September showed two emails sent to Flynn at 08:48 and 09:04.
The meeting - which marked Flynn's first appearance before the committee since becoming trasnport secretary in May - was scheduled to get under way at 09:15. The initial email was sent to Flynn and Transport Scotland officials. It acknowledges Transport Scotland was "yet to be contacted for comment" however includes a suggested comment from policy officials "if the coverage prompts any questions at committee".
A follow-up, sent 16 minutes later, includes a comment from CalMac and was sent to Flynn and Transport Scotland officials "for awareness". The transport secretary was questioned about the incident – which came to light after an FOI by BBC Scotland – by committee convener Rennie later that morning. He told Rennie he had not been given a briefing about the story, which was published that morning, though quickly clarified "unless I've missed it".
He added: "I wasn't listening or watching the BBC this morning convenor... I didn't see the news because I was facetiming my kids - but that is a different matter." Flynn said "it may have been the case" that the incident "may have been conveyed" to him as part of a wider tranche of documents he was given when he took over the role from predecessor Fiona Hyslop. He later clarified that Hyslop had been told about the leak.
What happened on board the Glen Sannox? PA Media About 700kg of methane was leaked while more than 80 passengers were on board MV Glen Sannox last summer Its propulsion systems were designed, supplied and commissioned by Finnish firm Wartsila, who worked as subcontractors as the vessel was being built at the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow. During an initial crossing between Troon, in South Ayrshire, and Brodick, on the Isle of Arran on 3 June 2025, the engine "tripped out" and the crossing was completed on diesel .
On the return leg, a valve that was part of the engine system failed, leading to gas being vented out the side of the ship. The engines had also been supplied without certain monitoring equipment, meaning the crew were initially unaware that the valve had failed. The gas continued to leak from the ship for 12 minutes before the crew realised what was happening and were able to close the valve manually.
So much gas was released that some was sucked back into the engine rooms through ventilation shafts, triggering gas detector alarms. The failed valve was sent for examination by Wartsila which found that a metal casing was damaged and had possibly been worn away by another component that had come loose. 'Serious concerns' The latest revelations come just a few days after First Minister John Swinney defended Flynn at a separate committee meeting. Willie Rennie raised "serious concerns about his [Flynn's] competence as a minister" and questioned his "awareness of his brief".
He said at the time: "All of the evidence to our committee has shown he is not on top of the issue in the way that he should be at the time he should be." Swinney said he "respectfully disagreed" with Rennie's analysis, adding he was confident all his ministers were "across their responsibilities".
Source: BBC
