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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Ashley Cowburn

MP who got on train while she had Covid faces 30-day suspension and possible by-election

MP Margaret Ferrier faces a 30-day suspension from the Commons and a possible by-election after breaching Covid rules.

The Committee on Standards recommended the severe punishment on Thursday after the ex-SNP MP travelled hundreds of miles on train to London from Scotland.

On Saturday September 26 2020, Ms Ferrier developed symptoms and took a Covid-19 test, but the following day she attended church and had lunch with a family member.

On Monday, September 28, while awaiting the results of the test - she travelled by train to London, took part in a Commons debate and ate in the Members' Tearoom in Parliament.

On the same evening she received a text telling her the test was positive but instead of isolating, she travelled back to Scotland by train the following morning.

Ms Ferrier - the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West - admitted at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2022 to the "culpable and reckless conduct" and was ordered to undertake 270 hours of unpaid work.

But she now also faces losing her parliamentary seat.

In a report published on Thursday she was found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and put people at risk for taking part in the debate on September 28.

The Committee on Standards said Ms Ferrier's failure "was not a single misjudgement, but a series of deliberate actions over several days".

The damning document claimed she "knowingly put others to risk, including staff working on the parliamentary estate" by failing to notify the House authorities of her positive test result.

MPs on the Committee said Ms Ferrier expressed remorse for her actions and her "[bitter] regret" the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

They also noted: "Ms Ferrier has experienced considerable personal distress in relation to this matter".

But the Committee, which described the breach of the Members' Code of Conduct as "severe", recommended a 30-day suspension for Ms Ferrier.

If MPs approve the 30-day suspension Ms Ferrier will face a recall petition and if 10% of her constituents back the move, a by-election will be called.

Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said Ms Ferrer should "do the right thing and stand down as an MP".

He added: "Margaret Ferrier's reckless actions put people at risk and rode roughshod over the rules everyone else followed.

"It is right that Parliament has thrown the book at her for this unacceptable behaviour."

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