MP could face by-election after being found guilty of Covid rule-breaking

An MP who broke Covid rules could now spur a by-election after it was recommended she be suspended from parliament.

Margaret Ferrier was found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and put people at risk after travelling by train while she had the virus.

If the proposed suspension by the Commons standards watchdog is backed by MPs – and if 10% of her constituents agree – a by-election will be triggered.

It also recommended that Ms Ferrier should face a 30-day suspension, which her colleagues will be asked to approve.

The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West in Scotland has already been ordered to complete a 270-hour community payback after admitting culpably and recklessly exposing the public ‘to the risk of infection, illness and death’.

Ms Ferrier developed Covid symptoms on September 26, 2020 and took a test but still went to church and had lunch with a family member the following day.

While awaiting the result of the test, she travelled by train to London, took part in a Commons debate and ate in the members’ tearoom in parliament.

That evening she received a text telling her the test was positive and instead of isolating, she travelled back to Scotland by train the next morning.

Ms Ferrier had the party whip removed and was suspended by the SNP in 2020 after the allegations against her emerged.

She has since sat in the Commons as an Independent.

Parliamentary commissioner for standards Daniel Greenberg said Ms Ferrier had breached the code of conduct for MPs ‘by placing her own personal interest of not wishing to self-isolate immediately or in London over the public interest of avoiding possible risk of harm to health and life’.

It was found she also breached the code because ‘her actions commencing from when she first took a Covid-19 test to when she finally begins self-isolation have caused significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, and of its members generally’.

Labour’s Ian Murray, shadow Scottish secretary, said there should be a by-election in the seat.

‘Margaret Ferrier’s reckless actions put people at risk and rode roughshod over the rules everyone else followed,’ he said.

‘It is right that parliament has thrown the book at her for this unacceptable behaviour.

‘There are still serious questions for the SNP to answer on what they knew and what they did at the time.

‘Ferrier should do the right thing and stand down as an MP.

‘Even Nicola Sturgeon called for her to resign – now (Scottish First Minister) Humza Yousaf must do the same.

‘If Margaret Ferrier doesn’t resign the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can exercise their right to boot her from office.

‘Her constituents deserve better and that means a by-election.’

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