Scotland’s first minister says the actions of an SNP MP who travelled to Westminster despite experiencing Covid symptoms are “utterly indefensible”.
Margaret Ferrier said she made the journey because she was feeling “much better” – but also returned home after getting a positive test result.
She is facing calls to resign from opponents and SNP politicians, after she was suspended by the party.
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted her support for the decision to suspend the MP.
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.”
Glasgow East MP David Linden, one of Ms Ferrier’s former SNP colleagues, told BBC Question Time she “should resign” as an MP.
His fellow SNP MPs, Kirsty Blackman and Stephen Flynn, have also called for her to step down.
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 took a coronavirus test on Saturday after experiencing “mild symptoms”, but travelled to London on Monday as she felt better.
The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West spoke in the coronavirus debate in the House of Commons on Monday, and said she received her positive test result that evening.
She then took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday.
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.
-BBC
