Scotland’s first Minster has said that the reckless actions of a Scottish National Party MP who travelled from Scotland to London by train despite experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are “utterly indefensible”.
Margaret Ferrier MP told reporters that she made the journey because she was feeling “much better” and added that she returned home via public transport after getting a positive test result.
It is not known as to whether or not the MP was wearing a face covering as she travelled by public transport.
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted to say that she thought that Ms Ferrier should be suspended.
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.”
Ms Ferrier said she took a coronavirus test on Saturday after experiencing “mild symptoms”. She added that she travelled to London on Monday as she had ‘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.
It is not known whether or not the MP has downloaded the NHS COVID-19 track and trace app that would allow individuals who had been near the MP as she travelled on the train, know that they had been close to someone who has tested positive for COVID.
The NHS COVID-19 App allows users to input a positive test result which will then automatically alert anyone who had been within two metres of the COVID positive MP for around 15 minutes.
The app uses anonymous Bluetooth technology to act as a ‘proximity warning’ when someone has been close to another individual who later tests positive for COVID.
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford said he had spoken to Ms Ferrier, who accepted that what she had done was wrong.
He said: “Margaret will be referring herself to the parliamentary standards commissioner as well as the police. I am tonight suspending the whip from Margaret.”
If you haven’t already, then you can download the NHS COVID-19 app HERE
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