3 months on, SNP MP charged over ‘reckless’ breach
AN MP has been arrested and charged over an alleged breach of coronavirus rules.
The SNP’s Margaret Ferrier apologised last year after she admitting using public transport while infected with Covid.
She said her actions in September had been a ‘blip’ and were out of character.
However, Miss Ferrier, 60, was suspended from the SNP group at Westminster – with Nicola Sturgeon urging her to quit as an MP.
Yesterday, Police Scotland confirmed she had been charged in connection with ‘alleged culpable and reckless conduct’.
The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP tweeted an apology on October 1 revealing she had had ‘mild symptoms’ of coronavirus and taken a test. However, while awaiting the results she travelled to Westminster from her Scottish home as she felt much better’.
She returned home by train after receiving a positive test result on September 28. On the same day she had given a speech in the House of Commons on coronavirus. She has said she ‘deeply regretted’ her actions.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘ We can confirm that officers today arrested and charged a 60-yearold woman in connection with alleged culpable and reckless conduct.
‘ This follows a thorough investigation into an alleged of coronavirus regulations between September 26 and 29. ‘A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal and we are unable to comment further.’ Miss Ferrier is not being held in custody. She has been charged with a common-law offence after allegedly failing to comply with social distancing and travel regulations. The Metropolitan Police investigated the incident but concluded no criminal offence had taken place in London. In October, she told a national newspaper that she felt ‘hung out to dry’ by the SNP after it withdrew the whip an hour after she made a statement about the incident. Despite pressure to resign her seat, she is now an independent MP and says she won’t quit.
Since being ousted from the SNP Westminster group, she has criticised the party.
At the time, she said: ‘I just felt it was very pushy. You’ve just been told you have Covid. You’re stressed. You’re wanting somebody to help you. I just went crazy.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘Miss Ferrier remains suspended from the SNP and we will not comment further on live police proceedings.’
The news comes less than a fortnight after Scotland’s First Minister Miss Sturgeon apologised for breaching Covid rules by taking her face mask off while standing at a pub wake. Scottish rules state that customers in hospitality venues must wear a mask except when seated.