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| 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 virus | Margaret 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. |
| 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. |
| Margaret Ferrier: Who is the MP who broke Covid rules? | Margaret Ferrier: Who is the MP who broke Covid rules? |
| The charge stated that she had failed to self isolate and had "exposed people to risk of infection, illness and death". | The charge stated that she had failed to self isolate and had "exposed people to risk of infection, illness and death". |
| Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month. | Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month. |
| The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West took a Covid test on Saturday 26 September because she had a "tickly throat". | The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West took a Covid test on Saturday 26 September because she had a "tickly throat". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | Prosecutor Mark Allan told the court: "The conduct amounted to a reckless disregard of public safety." |
| Ferrier was wearing a face mask when she arrived at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday morning | |
| 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. | 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. |
| He added: "The positive result from the test was delivered at 8.03pm by text and email. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | She later contacted Test and Protect and disclosed that she had a "slight and infrequent cough" the day before her test. |
| Mr Allan added: "She said she did not believe that she would be positive." | Mr Allan added: "She said she did not believe that she would be positive." |
| Reported to police | |
| Ferrier then informed Mr Grady and the Parliamentary Test and Trace service that she was positive. | Ferrier then informed Mr Grady and the Parliamentary Test and Trace service that she was positive. |
| This led to Mr Shannon being ordered to take a test and isolate in his hotel room, but he tested negative. | This led to Mr Shannon being ordered to take a test and isolate in his hotel room, but he tested negative. |
| Mr Grady was told the following day at a meeting at the Speaker's Office in the House of Commons that Ferrier's actions required to be reported to the police. | Mr Grady was told the following day at a meeting at the Speaker's Office in the House of Commons that Ferrier's actions required to be reported to the police. |
| Ferrier contacted police and informed them of her breach before sending out a statement on her social media. | Ferrier contacted police and informed them of her breach before sending out a statement on her social media. |
| Public health expert Dr Andrew Riley told the police that Ferrier had "significantly increased the risk of harm to both individual and public health." | 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 but has so far refused to resign as an MP. | Ferrier has previously said she "deeply regretted" her actions 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, 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. | 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 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. |