Margaret Ferrier set to make first Commons appearance since positive Covid journey

Margaret Ferrier is set to make her first appearance back in Parliament since being dropped by the SNP over her coronavirus scandal.

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP will tomorrow ask a question to the Cabinet Office in a clear sign she will continue despite the backlash over her breaching of the rules.

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

Appearing virtually tomorrow, she will ask Michael Gove: “What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure the adequacy of fuel and electricity supplies in the event of no agreement on the future relationship with the EU at the end of the transition period?”

Ms Ferrier has insisted the incident was a “blip” and claimed the virus made her act out of character.

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

At 7:15pm on the night of the incident, Ms Ferrrier had stood up in the Commons and paid tribute to the hard work of NHS and care workers during the pandemic.

Margaret Ferrier is set to make a virtual appearance in the Commons tomorrow.

Getting a positive test later that evening, she then got a train home from London anyway despite knowing she had coronavirus.

The independent MP says that she has received support locally in the wake of the incident and has "owned up and apologised profusely".

Since ending self-isolation, Ms Ferrier has voted by proxy, with suspended Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edward casting a vote on her behalf.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard have been among those pushing for Ms Ferrier – who beat Labour’s Ged Killen for the seat last year – to go.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford also both called on Ms Ferrier to stand down over the incident.

The disgraced MP responded, claiming she was “hung out to dry” by the party after admitting her mistake.

She had avoided police action over the Covid-19 trip, with the Metropolitan Police saying regulations under which Ms Ferrier could have been punished were not in effect when she travelled.

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