Swinney backs Flynn in ferry gas leak row and says 'nobody's perfect'
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has publicly defended Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn following controversy over whether Flynn was properly briefed about a gas leak on a CalMac ferry. While leaked documents suggest Flynn's office was contacted about the incident before a committee meeting, both Swinney and Flynn maintain that the minister was not personally briefed.
Why it matters
The incident highlights political accountability and the transparency of government communications regarding public safety infrastructure.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Stephen Flynn denied knowing about the leak on board the Glen Sannox at a meeting of the transport committee last month
First Minister John Swinney has backed Stephen Flynn in the row over whether the transport secretary had been briefed about a gas leak on a CalMac ferry.
Speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg programme in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, Swinney said emails showed Flynn had not been briefed ahead of a Holyrood committee meeting last month.
The first minister said he had confidence in his transport secretary, who "recognised that he should have been across an issue to be in front of the transport committee and he remedied that right away".
Swinney added: "Nobody's perfect, nobody's infallible".
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