This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62589375

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
MP Margaret Ferrier pleads guilty to exposing public to Covid MP Margaret Ferrier pleads guilty to exposing public to Covid
(32 minutes later)
Margaret Ferrier pled guilty to culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the virusMargaret Ferrier pled guilty to culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the virus
An MP has pled guilty to breaching Covid rules after travelling by train despite knowing she had the virus.An MP has pled guilty to breaching Covid rules after travelling by train despite knowing she had the virus.
Margaret Ferrier spoke in parliament in September 2020 while awaiting the results of a Covid test.Margaret Ferrier spoke in parliament in September 2020 while awaiting the results of a Covid test.
She then took the train home to Glasgow after being told she had tested positive.She then took the train home to Glasgow after being told she had tested positive.
Ms Ferrier admitted that she had culpably and recklessly exposed the public to the virus ahead of a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Ferrier admitted that she had culpably and recklessly exposed the public to the virus ahead of a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
She was elected as an SNP MP but lost the whip and now sits as an independent.She was elected as an SNP MP but lost the whip and now sits as an independent.
The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West took a Covid test on Saturday 26 September because she had a "tickly throat".
Margaret Ferrier: Who is the MP who broke Covid rules?Margaret Ferrier: Who is the MP who broke Covid rules?
While awaiting her results, she is believed to have gone to church and to a bar in Prestwick on the Sunday. The charge stated that she had failed to self isolate and had "exposed people to risk of infection, illness and death".
She then travelled to London by train on the Monday and spoke in the Commons later that day before finding out a short time later that she had tested positive for the virus. Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month.
Ms Ferrier decided to get a train back to Glasgow the following day, fearing she would have to self-isolate in a London hotel room for two weeks. The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West took a Covid test on Saturday 26 September because she had a "tickly throat".
She has previously said she "deeply regretted" her actions and referred herself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, as well as to the police - but has so far refused to resign as an MP. While awaiting her results, she went to church on the Sunday and gave a reading to the congregation, and later spent more than two hours in a bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire.
'Dangerous and indefensible' She then travelled to London by train - which had 183 passengers on board - on the Monday and spoke in the Commons later that day before finding out a short time later that she had tested positive for the virus.
Ferrier decided to get a train back to Glasgow the following day, fearing she would have to self-isolate in a London hotel room for two weeks.
Prosecutor Mark Allan told the court: "The conduct amounted to a reckless disregard of public safety."
Mr Allan said Ferrier wore a face mask in the Commons, and after speaking in the chamber at about 19:30 had sat at a table with DUP MP Jim Shannon, where they conversed for 20 minutes.
'Return to Scotland'
He added: "The positive result from the test was delivered at 8.03pm by text and email.
"She attended the SNP whips' office and spoke to then chief whip Patrick Grady MP. She informed Mr Grady that she would return to Scotland in the morning."
Ferrier returned to her hotel where she spent the night before heading back to London Euston and taking the train home to Glasgow.
Contact tracers for NHS Test and Protect attempted to contact Ferrier on four occasions but were unable to do so, leaving two voicemails.
She later contacted Test and Protect and disclosed that she had a "slight and infrequent cough" the day before her test.
Public health expert Dr Andrew Riley told the police that Ferrier had "significantly increased the risk of harm to both individual and public health."
Ferrier has previously said she "deeply regretted" her actions and referred herself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, as well as to the police - but has so far refused to resign as an MP.
The 61-year-old first became an MP in 2015 in the SNP landslide that saw the party take 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.The 61-year-old first became an MP in 2015 in the SNP landslide that saw the party take 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.
In May 2020, 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. In May 2020, she 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 in lockdown to protect each other from coronavirus" and described his position as "untenable".At the time, she said his actions had "undermined the sacrifices that we have all been making in lockdown to protect each other from coronavirus" and described his position as "untenable".
After it emerged Ms Ferrier had travelled with Covid symptoms, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned her actions as "dangerous and indefensible". After it emerged Ferrier had travelled with Covid symptoms, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned her actions as "dangerous and indefensible".
The SNP leader later called "with a heavy heart" for her to resign as an MP.The SNP leader later called "with a heavy heart" for her to resign as an MP.