STEPHEN Flynn has had a dig at the Daily Express after a headline claimed he was "snubbing" the Scottish Transport Awards "ahead of controversial World Cup jolly".
The Transport Secretary will indeed miss the ceremony at the Glasgow Marriot Hotel on Thursday but not because of travelling to the tournament in the US.
Flynn shared the headline on Twitter/X and said: "Hi @ScotExpress. I’m sadly going to miss the Awards because I’m currently in the Western Isles doing my job.
"Hope everyone has a great night!"
Flynn has been visiting the Western Isles to hear from islanders' about air and ferry travel.
CalMac's west coast ferry network was badly disrupted by breakdowns earlier his year while Loganair is to reduce flights between the islands and Inverness next month.
Hi @ScotExpress I’m sadly going to miss the Awards because I’m currently in the Western Isles doing my job. Hope everyone has a great night! pic.twitter.com/5nye0Zoiht
— Stephen Flynn (@StephenFlynnSNP) June 11, 2026
After meeting community leaders earlier this week, Flynn said he did not think it was "too much to ask" that islanders be able to go about their daily lives.
The results of a Visit Outer Hebrides survey suggest 96% of island businesses had encountered problems due to ferry disruption since the start of the year.
Flynn will be travelling to the World Cup for Scotland's first match against Haiti in Boston, with First Minister John Swinney also set to fly over .
Sports Minister Maree Todd and Community Care Minister Alison Thewliss are due to attend too.
Flynn hit back at Murdo Fraser earlier this year after the Scottish Conservative MSP accused the SNP of “hypocrisy” over his plans to support Scotland at the World Cup in the US.
Fraser had previously been accused of “deserting” Holyrood when he flew to Spain along with former Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart to watch Rangers play in a European final four years ago by SNP veteran Pete Wishart.
Fans gathered at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday and joined the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipe Band in a rendition of Flower of Scotland ahead of travelling to the World Cup.
