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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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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) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ms Ferrier has been suspended from the SNP, but the party cannot sack her as an MP. | Ms Ferrier has been suspended from the SNP, but the party cannot sack her as an MP. |
| The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said she should "do the right thing" and several MPs have called on her to step down from parliament. | |
| Ms Ferrier has apologised and said she deeply regretted her actions. | Ms Ferrier has apologised and said she deeply regretted her actions. |
| 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 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| Despite this, Ms Ferrier took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday, with SNP whips in the Commons being told about her positive test on Wednesday. | |
| A spokesman for the party said: "The SNP's chief whip immediately informed parliament authorities. | A spokesman for the party said: "The SNP's chief whip immediately informed parliament authorities. |
| "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". | "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". |
| It is understood Ms Ferrier had initially told the party she was travelling back to Scotland because a family member was unwell. | |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Ms Sturgeon subsequently tweeted that the MP's actions had been "indefensible". | Ms Sturgeon subsequently tweeted that the MP's actions had been "indefensible". |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, told BBC Breakfast that Ms Ferrier had broken the law and should therefore "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." | 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, 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. | |
| It's quite clear senior figures in the SNP now think Margaret Ferrier should quit Parliament. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 became clear she had travelled with symptoms and a positive result yesterday. | |
| But the anger at Westminster and beyond means 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. | |
| Ms Ferrier was one of the MPs who called on the prime minister's adviser Dominic Cummings to resign in the wake of the controversy over his visit to the North East of England during lockdown. | |
| At the time, she said his actions had "undermined the sacrifices that we have all been making" and described his position as "untenable". | |
| Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said Ms Ferrier's "reckless" actions had put the live of other people at risk. | 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. | 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." | "At every turn there was an opportunity for Margaret Ferrier to minimise the risk to others and she ignored that." |