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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. Margaret Ferrier is facing calls to resign as an MP after travelling on a train from London to Glasgow after testing positive for Covid-19.
She has been suspended from the SNP, with the party's Westminster leader saying she should "do the right thing". Ms Ferrier has been suspended from the SNP, but the party cannot sack her as an MP.
Three SNP MPs have also added their voice to growing demands for Ms Ferrier to step down from parliament. The SNP's Westminster leader has urged her to "do the right thing" and several MPs have openly called on her to step down from parliament.
She has admitted travelling while having Covid symptoms and returning by train after testing positive. Ms Ferrier has apologised and said she deeply regretted her actions.
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 said she had experienced "mild symptoms" on Saturday and was tested for coronavirus but decided to travel by train to Westminster on Monday before getting her result 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. She spoke in the Commons chamber during a coronavirus debate - tweeting a video of her speech - but was told later that evening that she had tested positive for the virus.
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". Despite this, Ms Ferrier took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday, with SNP whips in the Commons being told about positive test on Wednesday morning.
He said: "Nobody is above the law, nobody is above the regulations" and added: "I am calling on Margaret to do the right thing." A spokesman for the party said: "The SNP's chief whip immediately informed parliament authorities.
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. "The SNP only became aware on Thursday that Ms Ferrier had been tested prior to travelling to London and had travelled back to Glasgow, knowing that she had a positive result".
His fellow SNP MPs, Kirsty Blackman and Stephen Flynn, have also called for her to step down. SNP sources have been reported as saying that party leader Nicola Sturgeon was only told on Thursday afternoon - after she faced opposition leader at first minister's questions in the Scottish Parliament.
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." Ms Ferrier's actions became public when she tweeted an apology 6pm on Thursday, with the party announcing an hour later that it has suspended her.
Mr Flynn retweeted Ms Blackman's tweet, writing: "Impossible to disagree. The public will expect nothing less." Ms Sturgeon subsequently tweeted that the MP's actions had been "indefensible".
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.
"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.
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.
"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."
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.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". Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, told BBC Breakfast Ms Ferrier should "reflect very carefully on whether she can continue as a Member of Parliament for her constituents".
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 said: "Nobody is above the law, nobody is above the regulations" and added: "I am calling on Margaret to do the right thing."
It's quite clear senior figures in the SNP now think Margaret Ferrier should quit Parliament.
Privately - and increasingly publicly - even her close allies think her position is untenable.
It's worth highlighting the SNP didn't initially suspend her. A senior source told me they'd wait until the police had investigated before making a decision.
The party has also faced questions about why it didn't probe Ms Ferrier more after she revealed she had tested positive on Wednesday.
They say it only came clear she had travelled with symptoms and positive result yesterday.
But the anger at Westminster and beyond mean there is no way back for Ms Ferrier in the SNP. The question is now whether she believes she can stay as an independent MP.
Glasgow East MP David Linden, one of Ms Ferrier's former SNP colleagues, earlier told BBC Question Time that she "should resign" as an MP.
SNP MPs Kirsty Blackman and Stephen Flynn have also called for her to step down.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said Ms Ferrier's "reckless" actions had put the live of other people at risk.
He added: "It undermines the whole messaging of the Scottish government, the UK government and it has put people at risk - travelling hundreds of miles with symptoms and then with a Covid test result.
"At every turn there was an opportunity for Margaret Ferrier to minimise the risk to others and she ignored that."