New transport secretary Stephen Flynn is facing criticism for planning to attend the World Cup during parliamentary time, with a roads campaigner accusing him of prioritising being 'seen as one of the lads' over his duties. Before his election to Holyrood, the SNP MSP said he would travel to the United States in June to support Scotland's national men's football team.
The former SNP Westminster leader raised eyebrows when it emerged the trip would mean missing crucial parliamentary sessions, as well as the upcoming by-election for his Westminster seat, while flying 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.
Laura Hansler, a safety campaigner calling for the dualling of the A9 road, urged Mr Flynn to scrap his plans. 'As a newly appointed minister, his work and the work of this government should come first. I cannot think of many other new jobs where disappearing to a football match during working parliamentary time would be considered acceptable,' she said. 'This comes down to optics again, much like the attempts to create a public holiday around the Scotland game—trying to be seen as "one of the lads" while people across Scotland are dealing with very real crises.'
Ms Hansler, who has campaigned for safer conditions on the deadly A9 road for over five years, added: 'Before the summer recess, he should be mapping out his plans, not setting his out-of-office reply. I had hoped to hear from Mr Flynn in the coming weeks regarding the A9, but it appears his focus is elsewhere. I will now make that initial contact myself to ensure he understands that we at A9 Dual Action remain a priority and have absolutely no intention of going away.'
As Mr Flynn is now an MSP, First Minister John Swinney must grant permission for him to watch Steve Clarke's team in the United States, after appointing him as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Tourism and Transport. Some have suggested that allowing Mr Flynn to leave work to join the Tartan Army contradicts Mr Swinney's pledge that his new cabinet would 'hit the ground running' and 'work harder than ever'.
Douglas Lumsden, the Conservative candidate for Mr Flynn's former seat of Aberdeen South, said: 'Stephen Flynn is not the only member of the Tartan Army desperate to cheer on the team in the States. But he should be getting stuck into his new brief, not jetting off across the world when he is being paid handsomely by the taxpayer. While Stephen Flynn plans his getaway, I am fighting for every vote in Aberdeen South so I can fight for our oil and gas sector—which has been decimated by the SNP government.'
Politicians do not have any formal annual leave entitlement and are expected to take holidays during the 142 days that parliament is in recess each year. For an MSP to abandon their constituency and parliamentary duties during working time, they must request permission, known as a 'slip', from their party leader. The leader then decides based on upcoming votes or other business whether they can be spared.
Scotland will face Haiti in their World Cup opening match on June 13, then Morocco six days later, before playing their final group game against Brazil on June 24. The matches will take place in Boston and Miami.
Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Scotland deserves a government that is focused on delivering, and if Stephen Flynn is going to jet off during term time, he must make sure his trip does not undermine government business.'
Mr Flynn previously came under pressure to scrap the trip after US President Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland, with a former Nationalist MSP calling for a boycott of the tournament. He was branded a 'hypocrite' after the MoS revealed he had criticised the Trump administration, then enjoyed a £14,000 two-week trip to Washington, paid for by the US Government. In March last year, Mr Flynn said the US President's invitation to visit the UK in September should be rescinded. However, he did not criticise the US bombardment of Iran, which broke out on February 28 during his Washington trip. The First Minister and SNP colleagues have denounced US and Israeli military action, but Mr Flynn's first comment on the war did not come until March 11, after he had returned from Washington.
The Scottish Government ignored questions on whether the First Minister had been asked for, or had given, permission for Mr Flynn's absence. A spokesman said any plans for Mr Swinney to celebrate the World Cup would be announced 'in due course'.
