Scottish First Minister John Swinney has publicly backed Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop amid ongoing scrutiny regarding a gas leak incident on a state-owned ferry. The situation involves questions over whether Hyslop was informed about the incident in a timely manner. While critics have questioned the transparency of the communication between the transport department and the minister’s office, Hyslop maintains that she was not briefed on the specific details of the leak at the time it occurred.

Swinney addressed the controversy by stating he retains full confidence in Hyslop’s performance. During his comments, the First Minister remarked that "nobody’s perfect," a phrase interpreted by some as an acknowledgment of administrative shortcomings, while others view it as a defense of the government's overall handling of the matter. The opposition has called for further clarification on the timeline of the briefing, suggesting that the government’s internal reporting mechanisms may have failed to escalate the issue to the ministerial level. The government maintains that the incident was handled according to standard safety protocols, despite the breakdown in communication regarding the briefing process.