DISGRACED MP Margaret Ferrier has now been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days after breaking Covid rules in 2020.
The former SNP MP lost the party whip and was sentenced to 270 hours of community service for travelling on a train from London to Scotland after testing positive for the virus. MPs voted overwhelmingly to remove her from the House earlier this week.
The move has triggered a recall petition, where residents of Rutherglen and Hamilton West will have the chance to remove her as an MP. If 10% of the electorate vote her out, a by-election will take place.
So how do you sign the petition if you wish to do so?
The petition will be available for people to sign from Tuesday, June 20, until Monday, July 31.
There are seven locations across the constituency where people can do this. You cannot sign the petition if you do not live in the constituency.
Voters can visit the following places to sign the petition:
- Blantyre Leisure Centre, Glasgow Road, Blantyre G72 0JS
- Cambuslang Institute, 37 Greenlees Road, Cambuslang G72 8JE
- Fernhill Community Centre, 12 Auchenlarie Drive, Fernhill, Rutherglen G73 4EQ
- Rutherglen Town Hall, 139 Main Street, Rutherglen G73 2JJ
- South Lanarkshire Council Election Office, Beckford Street, Hamilton ML3 0BT
- South Lanarkshire Lifestyles Eastfield, Glenside Drive, Rutherglen G73 3LW
- South Lanarkshire Lifestyles Fairhill, Neilsland Road, Hamilton ML3 8HJ
A recall petition has never happened before in Scotland and has only occurred twice in the UK since the procedure was introduced in 2015.
The petition will be available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during the signing period.
There are some extended opening hours of 9am to 8pm on June 26, July 4, July 12, July 20 and July 27.
You can also sign on two Saturdays in July - July 1 and July 22 - between 9am and 1pm.
If you are involved in camapigning for people to sign the petition, the Electoral Commission has a guide for campaigners covering the requirements and expectations.
