Nicola Sturgeon defends SNP’s handling of Margaret Ferrier’s Covid rule-breaking

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has defended the SNP’s handling of Margaret Ferrier’s House of Commons visit and train journeys between Glasgow and London while suffering coronavirus symptoms

Nicola Sturgeon on the campaign trail with Margaret Ferrier

Ms Sturgeon said the SNP had acted quickly and “appropriately” when party members learned the details.

Opposition politicians and journalists had demanded answers as to who in the party knew about Ms Ferrier’s symptoms and infection, when they knew and how that was reflected in the party’s response.

Pressed on the subject at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing yesterday, Ms Sturgeon said she found out about Ms Ferrier’s actions after First Minister’s Questions on Thursday afternoon.

She said she believed the SNP at Westminster was told about Ms Ferrier testing positive for coronavirus on Wednesday but was not aware she had symptoms and had taken a test before attending Parliament.

Ms Sturgeon said: “It was not until yesterday my colleagues in the House of Commons realised the circumstances – that she’d actually taken the test before travelling to London and then travelling back ­having been told that she was positive.”

Ms Sturgeon said she was “struggling to comprehend how anybody could have acted in that way” and was anxious to understand all the facts.

Asked about her party’s handling of the situation, Ms Sturgeon said: “I think the SNP has acted quickly, appropriately and, actually, we have not tried to protect a colleague here.

“We’ve tried to do the right thing, given the circumstances we’re dealing with.”

Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray has written to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford demanding answers about Ms Ferrier’s “negligent actions”.