Covid-positive deputy Margaret Ferrier suspended for visit to Parliament



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Margaret Ferrier

Screenshot

The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West spoke at a debate in the House of Commons before returning ill to Scotland.

A SNP deputy was suspended by her party after she admitted traveling to Westminster despite experiencing Covid symptoms.

Margaret Ferrier, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said there was “no excuse for my actions.”

He said he did a test on Saturday, but traveled to London on Monday because he felt “much better”.

Ms Ferrier received a positive test result the same day, then took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday.

The MP said that she had informed the police and deeply regretted their actions.

Self-insulating at home

Ferrier said he took the weekend test after experiencing “mild symptoms” but traveled to London by train at the beginning of the work week.

He spoke at the coronavirus debate in the House of Commons on Monday and said he received a positive test result that night.

“I traveled home by train on Tuesday morning without asking for advice. This was wrong too and I’m sorry,” he said.

“I’ve been isolating myself at home ever since.”

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Media titleMargaret Ferrier speaks at Commons while waiting for the test result

The SNP is not taking the whip from Ms. Ferrier and is waiting for the police to investigate.

It is understood that the leadership spoke to him earlier today and it was clear that he had been “disappointed.”

‘She has to go’

Labor MP Ian Murray said Ferrier should face disciplinary action for his “astonishing recklessness.”

“She has put passengers, rail staff, Members of Parliament, Commons staff and many others at unacceptable risk,” he said.

“Breaking the rules twice is simply unforgivable and has undermined all the sacrifices made by your constituents.”

The train conductors union Aslef described their actions as “dangerous and shameful”.

The Holyrood leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, said knowingly taking public transport after testing positive for Covid-19 puts lives at risk, adding: “You have to go.”

Ferrier was one of the MPs who asked the prime minister’s adviser, Dominica Cummings, to resign in the wake of the controversy over her visit to northeast England during the shutdown.

At the time, he said his actions had “undermined the sacrifices we have all been making” and described his position as “unsustainable.”

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