Edinburgh festivals 2026: Nicola Sturgeon made a mistake in criticising campaign, says Stephen Flynn
‘I would think that she would probably regard it as a misstep’ - Stephen Flynn MSP
Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn has said he thinks Nicola Sturgeon “made a mistake” in publishing comments on the SNP in the foreword to the paperback edition of her book.
Speaking at Edinburgh Fringe event the Political Party with Matt Forde, the former Westminster leader was asked about the new foreword to Ms Sturgeon’s memoir, Frankly, published at the beginning of the month, in which she said the SNP’s Holyrood election campaign had “a lack of vision or big picture thinking”.
Mr Flynn said the comments were: “A little bit frustrating because you’re trying to get on and deliver, and there’s there’s a distraction here which is being created.”
He said he agreed that former First Ministers should add to the debate on political issues but that Ms Sturgeons recent comments were a “mistake”.
He said: “Given what they experienced in their position as First Minister, it’s vital actually that they partake in that ongoing set of debates about what society looks like and how we deliver that positive future in politics. But I think when you’re doing that, you do it in a constructive fashion.
“I’ve made mistakes at points over the course of the last couple of years in the way that I’ve approached things and I’ve reflected on that, and I think we all do certain things…I think Nicola made a mistake in this context as well.
“But that shouldn’t detract from the value of her input into political debate going forward.”
Mr Flynn, who is now the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, was asked if Ms Sturgeon’s departure from the party and her comments had affected the party hierarchy’s relationship with her and if people were “annoyed” with her comments.
He said: “I think they were more frustrated than anything else because they didn’t they didn’t necessarily see it as constructive in the way that I’ve tried to to present there because they want to hear what Nicola Sturgeon has to say, I want to hear what Nicola has to say because she’s incredibly good at politics and she was incredibly successful.
“But if you’re going to do it pick your way to do it, and I would think that she would probably regard it as a misstep.”
Mr Flynn, often seen as a likely successor to John Swinney as SNP leader, said he did not want to take on the top job while his children were young.
He said he felt he had not been “a good dad” during his time as an MP at Westminster.
He said: “What motivates me is independence, and what motivates me second to that, actually more on par of that or in front of that is being a good dad, and I’ve not been a good dad.
“Well, you can’t be… because I spent six and a half years of my son’s life, he was born three days after the election, not seeing him.”
He continued: “When I say I’ve never been more content, I say it meaningfully because I have much more time with my kids and with my wife and they deserve that, and you know I selfishly kind of deserve it too.”
Asked if he would consider being First Minister now that he is based in Holyrood, he said: “Whilst my kids are young, absolutely not.”