Scottish Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn was heavily criticised after appearing unaware, during a Holyrood transport committee session, of a dangerous gas leak on the Glen Sannox ferry – despite the incident having been reported on BBC news that same morning. The episode, likened by columnist Tom Harris to watching a "dying guppy gasping for air", raises questions about Flynn's grip on his brief given his stated ambition to eventually lead the SNP and become First Minister.

Committee chairman Willie Rennie repeatedly pressed Flynn on whether he had been briefed about the incident, in which around 700kg of flammable methane gas was accidentally released aboard the ferry last year while carrying 82 passengers from Arran to the mainland. Flynn, who entered Holyrood in May's elections after nine years as an MP at Westminster, gave halting, evasive answers and admitted he had not been watching or listening to the BBC that morning, prompting the columnist to question his readiness for higher office.