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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Margaret Ferrier: Covid train trip MP to appeal Parliament ban | Margaret Ferrier: Covid train trip MP to appeal Parliament ban |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Margaret Ferrier will appeal against the proposed ban | Margaret Ferrier will appeal against the proposed ban |
| MP Margaret Ferrier will appeal against a proposed 30-day ban from the House of Commons over breaching Covid rules. | MP Margaret Ferrier will appeal against a proposed 30-day ban from the House of Commons over breaching Covid rules. |
| It comes after she spoke in Parliament while awaiting the results of a Covid test in September 2020. | It comes after she spoke in Parliament while awaiting the results of a Covid test in September 2020. |
| The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP then took a train home to Glasgow after learning she had tested positive. | The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP then took a train home to Glasgow after learning she had tested positive. |
| She was elected as an SNP MP but lost the whip following her actions and now sits as an independent. Her suspension would likely lead to a by-election. | She was elected as an SNP MP but lost the whip following her actions and now sits as an independent. Her suspension would likely lead to a by-election. |
| The Commons' Standards Committee recommended last month that she should be suspended. | The Commons' Standards Committee recommended last month that she should be suspended. |
| In August last year Ferrier was sentenced to 270 hours community service at Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct. | In August last year Ferrier was sentenced to 270 hours community service at Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct. |
| It stated that she failed to self-isolate and had "exposed people to risk of infection, illness and death". | It stated that she failed to self-isolate and had "exposed people to risk of infection, illness and death". |
| If an MP is suspended from the Commons for more than 10 days, then a recall petition can be launched seeking a by-election. | If an MP is suspended from the Commons for more than 10 days, then a recall petition can be launched seeking a by-election. |
| If this is supported by 10% of voters in the constituency, then a by-election would be triggered. | If this is supported by 10% of voters in the constituency, then a by-election would be triggered. |
| Ferrier won an SNP majority of 5,230 at the last general election, with Labour finishing second. | Ferrier won an SNP majority of 5,230 at the last general election, with Labour finishing second. |
| Ferrier appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court in August last year | Ferrier appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court in August last year |
| Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, began the investigation into Ferrier's conduct last October. | Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, began the investigation into Ferrier's conduct last October. |
| The MP had taken a Covid test on Saturday 26 September 2020 because she had a "tickly throat". | The MP had taken a Covid test on Saturday 26 September 2020 because she had a "tickly throat". |
| While awaiting her results, she went to church on the Sunday 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 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 following Monday and spoke in the Commons later that day. | She then travelled to London by train - which had 183 passengers on board - on the following Monday and spoke in the Commons later that day. |
| A short time later she found out that she had tested positive for the virus. | A short time later she found out that she had tested positive for the virus. |
| Ferrier took a train back to Glasgow the next day, fearing she would have to self-isolate in a London hotel for two weeks. | Ferrier took a train back to Glasgow the next day, fearing she would have to self-isolate in a London hotel for two weeks. |
| The commissioner concluded that she put her own personal interest ahead of the public interest by not immediately self-isolating in London, and had caused "possible risk of harm to health and life for people she came into contact with". | The commissioner concluded that she put her own personal interest ahead of the public interest by not immediately self-isolating in London, and had caused "possible risk of harm to health and life for people she came into contact with". |
| The commissioner also said her actions "caused significant damage" to the reputation of the House of Commons and noted that people in other roles would have been sacked for a similar breach of the lockdown rules. | The commissioner also said her actions "caused significant damage" to the reputation of the House of Commons and noted that people in other roles would have been sacked for a similar breach of the lockdown rules. |
| Ferrier told the commissioner her self-referral was "an open acceptance" and an "indication of remorse" that she had brought Parliament into disrepute. | Ferrier told the commissioner her self-referral was "an open acceptance" and an "indication of remorse" that she had brought Parliament into disrepute. |
| But she maintained that she did not put her personal interest above that of the public. | But she maintained that she did not put her personal interest above that of the public. |
| It is not known how long the appeal process will take. | It is not known how long the appeal process will take. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| House of Commons | House of Commons |
| Rutherglen | Rutherglen |
| Margaret Ferrier | Margaret Ferrier |