Margaret Ferrier Should Not Just Resign As An MP, But Must Face Criminal Charges

02/10/2020

Margaret Ferrier, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, travelled to Westminster by public transport on Monday, in spite of having said she had "mild symptoms" of COVID-19 on Saturday and had been tested for coronavirus. This, in itself, is a direct breach of the rules that are in place to try and get the spread of the virus under control and to save lives.

Margaret Ferrier, speaking in the House of Commons

She did this in order that she could attend a debate in the House of Commons. This is quite incredible, especially given that coronavirus was actually the subject of the debate.

Ferrier spoke for four minutes in the Commons chamber during the coronavirus debate, and tweeted a video of her speech. She was given the results of her test on Monday evening, confirming that she did have COVID-19.

Despite this, Ferrier took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday!

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister and the leader of the SNP, has urged Margaret Ferrier to resign as an MP, saying she had spoken to Ms Ferrier and "made clear her view" that she should step down.

Ferrier deliberately used public transport, bringing her into contact with other passengers and railway workers, whilst she knew she was infected with the virus.

Ferrier has, unsurprisingly, been suspended by the SNP, the party she was a part of. However, she cannot be sacked as an MP by Nicola Sturgeon.

I would hope that her constituents are looking at recalling her, using the Recall of MPs Act 2015, as this is how they can force her removal and cause a by-election.

It has been reported that Ferrier had initially told the party she was going home because a family member was unwell. This means that she not only knew what she was doing, but deliberately lied about it to her parliamentary colleagues.

Her position as an MP is untenable and I would imagine the other 649 MPs would overwhelmingly wish her to step down.

Police Scotland are apparently liaising with the Metropolitan Police. There is clearly no doubt that Ferrier is guilty of coming into contact with others when she should have been self-isolating. The fine for a first-time offence under the law, which came into force on the day of her positive test, is £4,000.

It is time that all those who break the laws established to combat the spread of the infection to face prosecution and, if found guilty, the appropriate penalties.