Nicola Sturgeon calls on Margaret Ferrier to resign as an MP over self-isolation rule breaches

Margaret Ferrier has faced calls to stand down as MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West after admitting breaking self-isolation rules.

Ms Ferrier, who has had the SNP whip suspended, shared a statement on Twitter on Thursday afternoon saying that she had travelled from Glasgow to London after experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

She took the train journey while waiting for the results of the test. When it came back positive, she then travelled by rail back to Scotland.

Her actions have been condemned by members of her party, including the First Minister and Westminster leader Ian Blackford, as well as her opponents.

Nicola Sturgeon has now directly called for Ms Ferrier to stand down.

She tweeted on Friday morning: “I’ve spoken to Margaret Ferrier and made clear my view that she should step down as an MP.

“I did so with a heavy heart – she is a friend & colleague – but her actions were dangerous & indefensible.

“I have no power to force an MP to resign but I hope she will do the right thing.”

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 https://t.co/9rgWpPKrOe

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 1, 2020

Mr Blackford said he had asked Ms Ferrier to “reflect on her situation” after the breach.

Asked if he wanted her to resign, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is a very serious situation.

“That we have been living with this Covid for a number of months. Now, people are making enormous sacrifices.

“And MPs have to be judged to the highest standards.

“And, we have a situation here that not only has the guidance been broken, but the law has been broken.

“And, I would simply say to Margaret that people will expect her to reflect on the situation that she has put herself in.”

I have spoken with @MargaretFerrier this evening who fully accepts that what she did was wrong. Margaret will be referring herself to the parliamentary standards commissioner as well as the police. I am tonight suspending the whip from Margaret. https://t.co/1bCst4r5Pu

— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) October 1, 2020

Mr Blackford said that it was not only the wrong thing to do, but a breach of the law.

He added: “She has let herself down, and she has let her constituents, and, indeed, the country, down as well.

“I am asking her to reflect on her position – but I think it’s very clear what I’m doing.”

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross branded Ms Ferrier’s decision as “reckless and dangerous”.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Ross said: “We expect politicians to lead by example and follow the guidance we are setting – we are law-makers.

“Margaret Ferrier was part of the process to enable these laws to be enacted across the country and her actions are reckless, they are dangerous, they are undermining everything we are doing as a country to try and get on top of this virus.”

He criticised the SNP, saying: “There’s an awful lot of questions to be answered here as to when the SNP found out.”

He said the party might have been aware as early as Monday evening when Ms Ferrier first asked to be granted a proxy vote.

Mr Ross himself resigned as a Government minister over his party’s refusal to condemn Dominic Cummings’ trip to Durham with his family at the height of lockdown while suffering coronavirus symptoms.

Ms Ferrier also condemned Cummings’ actions at the time, saying they “undermined the sacrifices that we have all been making in lockdown.”

SNP in chaos & appear to be covering up serious breach of public health laws. FM & Blackford must hold press conference tomorrow am to answer questions about what they did & didn’t know. Speaker contradicts SNP story. There can’t be 1 rule for the SNP, another for the rest of us.

— Ian Murray MP (@IanMurrayMP) October 1, 2020

An SNP spokeswoman said: “Ms Ferrier informed the SNP on Wednesday, when she was in Glasgow, that she had tested positive.

“The SNP’s Chief Whip immediately informed Parliament authorities.

“The SNP only became aware on Thursday that Ms Ferrier had been tested prior to travelling to London and had travelled back to Glasgow, knowing that she had a positive result.”

Ms Ferrier said in a statement: “I apologise unreservedly for breaching Covid-19 restrictions by travelling this week when I shouldn’t have. There is no excuse for my actions.

“On Saturday afternoon, after experiencing mild symptoms, I requested a Covid-19 test which I took that day. Feeling much better, I then travelled to London by train on Monday to attend Parliament as planned. This was wrong, and I am very sorry for my mistake.

“On Monday evening I received a positive test result for Covid-19. I travelled home by train on Tuesday morning without seeking advice. This was also wrong and I am sorry. I have been self-isolating at home ever since.

“I have used Test and Protect and I have notified the House of Commons authorities who have spoken with Public Health England. I have also notified the police of my actions.

“Despite feeling well, I should have self-isolated while waiting for my test result, and I deeply regret my actions. I take full responsibility and I would urge everyone not to make the same mistakes that I have, and do all they can to help limit the spread of Covid-19.”

First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Ferrier’s actions are “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,” she tweeted.

“The rules apply to everyone and they’re in place to keep people safe. (Ian Blackford) is right to suspend the whip.”

MP David Linden called on his SNP colleague to resign for breaking the rules.

He told BBC Question Time: “I’ve got to say I’m pretty furious with the behaviour of Margaret Ferrier MP. It’s utterly inexcusable and it’s right that she lost the whip for that.

“I don’t think her position is tenable and she should resign.”

SNP MP Kirsty Blackman tweeted: “I agree with David Linden. Margaret Ferrier must resign.

“Both David and Margaret are unparalleled campaigners for our party but in this circumstance David is right. Margaret’s actions cannot be overlooked.”