New transport secretary Stephen Flynn is ditching his duties to go to the World Cup so he can be seen ‘as one of the lads’, a roads campaigner has said.

Before his election to Holyrood, SNP MSP Stephen Flynn said he would be jetting off to the United States in June to see Scotland’s national men’s side compete.

The former Nats Westminster leader raised eyebrows when it emerged the jaunt would mean missing crucial parliamentary time – and now 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, said Mr Flynn must scrap his plans to go to States and said: ‘As a newly appointed minister, his work and the work of this government should come first. I can’t think of many other new jobs where disappearing off to football during working parliamentary time would be considered acceptable.

‘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 been calling for the deadly A9 road to be made safer for more than half a decade, added: ‘Before the summer recess he should be mapping out his plans, not putting on his out-of-office.

‘I had hoped to hear from Mr Flynn in the coming weeks regarding the A9, but it appears his focus is elsewhere.

‘I’ll now be making that initial contact myself to ensure he understands that we at A9 Dual Action remain a priority and have absolutely no intention of going anywhere.’

Now Mr Flynn is an MSP, John Swinney will have to give permission for him to watch Steve Clarke’s team in America after appointing him Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Tourism and Transport.

Some have suggested that allowing Mr Flynn to leave work to join the Tartan Army goes against Mr Swinney’s pledge that his new cabinet would ‘hit the ground running’ and ‘work harder than ever’.

Douglas Lumsden, who is standing to be the Conservative MP in Mr Flynn’s old seat of Aberdeen South, said: ‘Stephen Flynn isn’t 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’s being paid handsomely by the taxpayer.

‘While Stephen Flynn plans his getaway, I’m 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 throughout the year.

For an MSP to abandon their constituency and parliamentary duties during working time they have to request permission, known as a ‘slip’, from their party leader.

It is then up to the leader to decide, based on any upcoming votes or other business, whether they can be spared.

The national side will take on Haiti on June 13, then Morocco six days later before playing their final game against Brazil on June 24, with the matches taking place in Boston and Miami.

Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: ‘Scotland deserves a government that is focussed on delivering and if Stephen Flynn is going to jet off during term time he must make sure his trip doesn’t 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 MP calling for a boycott of the tournament.

He was branded a ‘hypocrite’ after the MoS previously 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 of that same year should be rescinded.

However, he did not seek to criticise the US bombardment of Iran, which broke out on February 28 during his trip to Washington.

The First Minister and SNP colleagues have denounced the US and Israeli military action. However, Mr Flynn’s first comment on the war, either in person or on social media, didn’t 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’.