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Contact trackers are arriving in Parliament today after an SNP deputy breached self-isolation rules to attend the Commons.
Margaret Ferrier faces universal condemnation for her “utterly indefensible” behavior by going to Westminster while suffering from symptoms and then taking a train back to Scotland after her test was positive.
The flagrant violation of the quarantine law is punishable by a £ 4,000 fine, and Ms Ferrier is also urged by her own colleagues to step down as an MP for Rutherglen & Hamilton West.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who has already stripped her of the whip, said this morning that she must ‘reflect on her position’. “I think it’s obvious what you have to do,” he told BBC Breakfast.
The Commons said that a person who had come into contact with Ms Ferrier had been told to isolate himself, and that investigations into who else might be at risk will continue. Additional cleaning precautions have also been taken, although the damage may already be done.
Surprisingly, the 60-year-old received a positive result Monday night and still appeared in the House of Commons (pictured), speaking at a debate on the coronavirus and its impact on the economy and employment.
Her own leader, Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, called her MP’s actions ‘absolutely indefensible’ and said it was difficult to express ‘how angry’ she felt.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon condemned the MP’s “absolutely indefensible” behavior and welcomed the suspension of the whip, but there were calls for Ms. Ferrier’s resignation, including from within the party.
The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP said she underwent a test Saturday afternoon after experiencing “mild symptoms,” meaning she should have isolated herself before traveling by train to London on Monday after feeling better.
The Labor Party suggested that the party covered up knowledge of Margaret Ferrier’s actions after it emerged that they knew of her diagnosis a day before she revealed it on Thursday night.
He spoke at the coronavirus debate in the House of Commons on Monday and, according to his account, tested positive for Covid-19 that night. He did not clarify whether he received the result before or after speaking.
In a statement, he said he traveled to his home in Glasgow on Tuesday, where he has been isolating himself ever since.
Scottish police said the MP informed them of his behavior on Thursday and officers are “investigating the circumstances” together with the Metropolitan Police.
The Commons said it did not inform the whip of its match until Wednesday afternoon and that one person was identified as a close contact and told to isolate himself.
Ms Ferrier could face a £ 4,000 fine for a first-time offense for coming into contact with other people when she should have been self-isolating under a law that went into effect on the day of her positive test.
“Despite feeling good, I should have isolated myself while waiting for my test result, and I deeply regret my actions,” he said.
The SNP won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat from Labor in the 2019 general election, when Ms Ferrier won with a majority of 5,230.
Sturgeon welcomed Ferrier being stripped of the whip, saying: ‘It is difficult to express how angry I feel on behalf of people across the country who make great sacrifices every day to help defeat Covid. The rules apply to everyone and are in place to keep people safe. ‘
David Linden, the SNP MP for Mrs Ferrier’s neighboring Glasgow East constituency, has asked her to leave.
He told BBC Question Time that his behavior is “absolutely unforgivable”, adding: “I don’t think his position is sustainable and he should resign.”
Ms Ferrier’s actions are even more astonishing because earlier this year she openly criticized the government for defending the 10th adviser, Dominic Cummings, when he was accused of violating the blockade.
Margaret Ferrier said she was “very sorry” to travel from her seat in Rutherglen to attend the Commons.
Since then Kirsty Blackman, SNP MP from Aberdeen North, and Stephen Flynn, SNP MP from Aberdeen South, have echoed this.
Blackman said that while Ferrier is an “incomparable” party activist, she must resign.
“Margaret’s actions cannot be overlooked,” he added in a tweet.
Mr. Flynn retweeted Ms. Blackman’s post, writing: ‘Impossible to disagree. The public will expect no less ”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who resigned from Boris Johnson’s government over Dominic Cummings’ shutdown moves, said “the public deserves clear answers.”
“We now know that the SNP was informed on Wednesday that Margaret Ferrier had been tested, after she had already traveled back to Scotland from London by public transport while she was infected with the virus,” she said.
“These actions not only violated the law, but will put lives at risk.
“We must know from Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford exactly when they found out and why they kept this information secret from the public for hours or maybe even days.”
Scottish shadow secretary Ian Murray also demanded answers from the Prime Minister, Mrs Sturgeon and Mr Blackford.
The Labor MP tweeted: ‘SNP in chaos and appears to be covering up serious violations of public health laws.
“FM and Blackford are due to hold a press conference tomorrow morning to answer questions about what they did and what they didn’t know.”
A SNP spokeswoman insisted the party did not learn until Thursday that Ms Ferrier had taken a test before traveling to London.
“Ms Ferrier informed the SNP on Wednesday when she was in Glasgow that she had tested positive,” she said.
The SNP whip chief immediately informed the Parliament authorities. The SNP learned on Thursday that Ms Ferrier had been tested prior to traveling to London and had traveled back to Glasgow, knowing she had a positive result.
On Monday, Ms. Ferrier delivered a four-minute speech in the Commons starting at 7.15pm and focused on the “economic health” of her constituents, calling for increased financial support.
A Scottish Police spokesman said officers are communicating with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police.
“ MP Margaret Ferrier contacted Scottish police earlier today to travel between London and Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, ” she said.
