Stephen Flynn has said he thinks Nicola Sturgeon “made a mistake” publishing comments on the SNP in the foreword of her book.

Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe event the Political Party with Matt Forde, the former Westminster leader was asked about the comments which were published at the beginning of the month in the paperback edition of Ms Sturgeon’s memoir, Frankly.

Ms Sturgeon said the SNP’s Holyrood election campaign had “a lack of vision or big picture thinking”.

He 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 continued that he agrees that the 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 the former first minister 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.”