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SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she had made it “very clear” to Margaret Ferrier that she should resign as a deputy after breaking coronavirus rules by traveling between Glasgow and Westminster after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Scottish Prime Minister said she has spoken to the MP, who had the SNP whip removed after the incident emerged, but was unable to obtain a “convincing explanation” for his actions.
Ms Ferrier was tested on Saturday for the coronavirus after developing symptoms, but took a train to Parliament in London on Monday when she should have been isolated.
He delivered a four-minute speech in the House of Commons at 7.15pm Monday during a debate on the coronavirus.
That same night, Ferrier said he received a positive test result, although it is not known whether it was before or after speaking in parliament. Then she took the train back to Glasgow.
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into the reported violations of the coronavirus regulations by Ms. Ferrier.
Sturgeon has joined the growing calls for Ferrier to step down as a deputy for her “reckless, dangerous and completely indefensible” actions.
She said today at the Scottish government’s coronavirus briefing: “I have also spoken to her directly and made it very clear to her that I think she should now resign as an MP.”
“I don’t have the power to force a deputy to sit down, no party leader has that power.
“But I can make my views known and, hard as it is, I have, and I hope she makes the right decision in the interests of the overall integrity of vital public health messages.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Ms Ferrier’s position as a deputy is untenable after “tremendous error in judgment.”
He said Ms Ferrier’s SNP whip was recalled yesterday morning when the party learned of her violations of coronavirus rules.
He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland: “I am quite angry about what has happened, it is not acceptable.
“It is important that it is irreproachable that everyone, absolutely everyone, must obey the rules and we have to think about the signal that it gives to the public and the sacrifices that people have to make, and it is in light of that that Margaret will do it. to do the right thing. “
Several other SNP MPs, including David Linden, whose Glasgow East constituency is Ms Ferrier’s neighbor, have also asked her to resign.
Ferrier said he took a test Saturday afternoon after experiencing “mild symptoms,” meaning he should have been isolated.
In a statement, he said he traveled to his home in Glasgow on Tuesday, where he has been isolating himself ever since.
He apologized for his actions and said “there was no excuse”.
Scottish police said the MP informed them of his behavior on Thursday and officers are “investigating the circumstances.”
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