Flynn hits out at ex-Lib Dem leader Rennie’s ‘faux outrage’

Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn has accused a senior MSP of “faux outrage” after he suggested he was not up to the job.

John Swinney was forced to defend his minister from a scathing attack by Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie when he faced Holyrood’s committee conveners earlier this month.

Mr Rennie criticised the minister over his apparent failure to update Parliament about the situation at bus builder Alexander Dennis early enough, the timing of his intervention to save summer flights from Inverness to Scotland’s islands, and his apparent lack of immediate knowledge about a flammable gas leak on the Glen Sannox ferry.

“My central point, as you’ve gathered, is that confidence in ministers is essential,” the former Lib Dem leader told the First Minister.

“We need to know that ministers are on it – they’re open, they’re transparent, they’re acting timely, and I’m afraid you’ve got to recognise that Mr Flynn has not been any of those things.”

In September, Mr Flynn appeared before the Transport Committee – chaired by Mr Rennie – and was unable to answer when asked about a BBC story which appeared that morning about a gas leak on the Glen Sannox ferry last year.

It later transpired the minister had been sent two emails in the hour before the committee appearance about the story, which he did not see because, he said, his private office staff have access to his email as opposed to him.

Speaking to the Press Association on Friday, Mr Flynn said: “I’ve seen Mr Rennie’s comments and I was surprised, actually, because Mr Rennie, of course, has portrayed himself as a details guy.

“He was outraged on Friday about an email sent to an account that I can’t even see – and he knows that – and yet he chose to be outraged on that.

“So the public will make their own minds up in respect of Mr Rennie’s faux outrage in that regard.

“What I’ll do is I’ll continue to get on with the job of delivery.”

At the time of the appearance in September, Mr Flynn said he had not seen the story that morning as he had been “facetiming my kids”.

Pressed on whether a member of his staff should have made him aware of the story, the minister said: “I mean, it would have been nice to have been aware of the story.”

He added: “Look, I gave a terrible answer, and I recognise I was probably far too candid, actually in respect of my own response and I’ve reflected upon that, of course I have, and nobody’s more frustrated about that than I am.”

Mr Flynn continued: “The biggest thing for me isn’t my own ‘reputation’ in terms of how I responded, or this ridiculous argument about an email being sent to and account I don’t even have access to 15-20 minutes before the committee.

“The important thing for me is to just really drive home the message that in relation to that gas leak in June 2025, the then transport secretary (Fiona Hyslop) was briefed and it was made quite clear that there was no threat to the public.

“And where there were problems that needed to be fixed and rectified, that’s happened on (the Glen Sannox’s sister ship) the Glen Rosa, which is obviously still under construction at Ferguson’s – that’s the important point for this.”

The Scottish Lib Dems have been contacted for comment.