Margaret Ferrier refuses to step down as MP after Covid breach

Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier will not resign despite backlash over repeatedly breaching coronavirus rules by travelling after developing symptoms.

Margaret Ferrier, SNP MP. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Earlier this month, Ms Ferrier admitted to travelling from Glasgow to Westminster while awaiting a Covid-19 test result, and making the return trip when she knew she had the virus.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford have been among those calling on Ms Ferrier to stand down over the incident, while Scottish Labour has launched an online petition calling for her to resign.

However in an interview with The Scottish Sun on Sunday, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, who has had the SNP whip withdrawn over the saga, said she had no intention of standing down.

She told the paper: "This has been an awful experience but I'll keep fighting for my constituents because that's who I am."

She added that she has received support locally in the wake of the incident and has "owned up and apologised profusely".

Ms Ferrier revealed to the paper her reasoning for travelling to Westminster after taking a Covid-19 test was "wanting to represent her constituents" and take part in a parliamentary debate - something which could not be done virtually.

She also spoke out about the level of criticism she has received over the incident, adding: "You feel you are getting a lot of criticism from people you thought were your colleagues or friends who'd understand it was an error of judgement. I'm not denying that.

"People may be saying, 'You should have known better, you're a public figure'. But at the end of the day it still hurts. You then think about all that hard work and dedication - is that just wiped away?"

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director