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| Margaret Ferrier: Covid-positive MP faces calls to quit | Margaret Ferrier: Covid-positive MP faces calls to quit |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| MP Margaret Ferrier is facing growing calls to resign after travelling by train from London to Glasgow having tested positive for Covid-19. | |
| She has been suspended from the SNP, with the party's Westminster leader saying she should "do the right thing". | |
| Three SNP MPs have also added their voice to growing demands for Ms Ferrier to step down from parliament. | |
| She has admitted travelling while having Covid symptoms and returning by train after testing positive. | She has admitted travelling while having Covid symptoms and returning by train after testing positive. |
| Ms Ferrier has apologised and said she decided to travel to Westminster on Monday because she was "feeling much better". | Ms Ferrier has apologised and said she decided to travel to Westminster on Monday because she was "feeling much better". |
| The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West spoke in the coronavirus debate in the House of Commons and said she received her positive test result that evening. She took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday. | The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West spoke in the coronavirus debate in the House of Commons and said she received her positive test result that evening. She took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday. |
| Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, told BBC Breakfast she should "reflect very carefully on whether she can continue as a Member of Parliament for her constituents". | |
| He said: "Nobody is above the law, nobody is above the regulations" and added: "I am calling on Margaret to do the right thing." | |
| Glasgow East MP David Linden, one of Ms Ferrier's former SNP colleagues, had earlier told BBC Question Time she "should resign" as an MP. | |
| His fellow SNP MPs, Kirsty Blackman and Stephen Flynn, have also called for her to step down. | His fellow SNP MPs, Kirsty Blackman and Stephen Flynn, have also called for her to step down. |
| Ms Blackman tweeted: "I agree with David Linden. Margaret Ferrier must resign. Both David and Margaret are unparalleled campaigners for our party but in this circumstance David is right. Margaret's actions cannot be overlooked." | |
| Mr Flynn retweeted Ms Blackman's tweet, writing: "Impossible to disagree. The public will expect nothing less." | Mr Flynn retweeted Ms Blackman's tweet, writing: "Impossible to disagree. The public will expect nothing less." |
| SNP leader and Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon had earlier tweeted her support for the decision to suspend the MP from the party. | SNP leader and Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon had earlier tweeted her support for the decision to suspend the MP from the party. |
| She said: "This is utterly indefensible. It's hard to express just how angry I feel on behalf of people across the country making hard sacrifices every day to help beat Covid. | She said: "This is utterly indefensible. It's hard to express just how angry I feel on behalf of people across the country making hard sacrifices every day to help beat Covid. |
| "The rules apply to everyone and they're in place to keep people safe. @Ianblackford_MP is right to suspend the whip." | "The rules apply to everyone and they're in place to keep people safe. @Ianblackford_MP is right to suspend the whip." |
| Meanwhile, Ruth Davidson, former Scottish Conservative leader, told BBC Newsnight: "She shouldn't be an MP at all. That's on her and if she had a shred of decency she would [resign]," she said. | Meanwhile, Ruth Davidson, former Scottish Conservative leader, told BBC Newsnight: "She shouldn't be an MP at all. That's on her and if she had a shred of decency she would [resign]," she said. |
| Taking public transport after testing positive amounted to an "absolutely reckless endangerment of person and of life", she added. | Taking public transport after testing positive amounted to an "absolutely reckless endangerment of person and of life", she added. |
| Ms Ferrier said she had informed the police and that she deeply regretted her actions. | Ms Ferrier said she had informed the police and that she deeply regretted her actions. |
| "I travelled home by train on Tuesday morning without seeking advice. This was also wrong and I am sorry," she said. | "I travelled home by train on Tuesday morning without seeking advice. This was also wrong and I am sorry," she said. |
| "I have been self-isolating at home ever since." | "I have been self-isolating at home ever since." |
| Police Scotland confirmed they had been contacted by Ms Ferrier, saying officers were "looking into the circumstances" and liaising with the Metropolitan Police Service. | Police Scotland confirmed they had been contacted by Ms Ferrier, saying officers were "looking into the circumstances" and liaising with the Metropolitan Police Service. |
| The Commons said she did not inform her party whip until Wednesday afternoon and that one person was identified as a close contact and told to self-isolate. | |
| Ms Ferrier could face a £4,000 fine for a first-time offence of coming into contact with others when she should have been self-isolating under a law that came into force on the day of her positive test. | |
| Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents some Commons staff, said it was "such a deliberate and reckless act". | Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents some Commons staff, said it was "such a deliberate and reckless act". |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's a complete disregard for others. Coronavirus is like any other health and safety issue in the workplace - we all have obligations to other people and anyone who recklessly endangers other people has to face consequences." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's a complete disregard for others. Coronavirus is like any other health and safety issue in the workplace - we all have obligations to other people and anyone who recklessly endangers other people has to face consequences." |