Guilty, SNP MP who took busy train after positive Covid test

A SCOTTISH Nationalist MP has been urged to quit after admitting she exposed the public to potential ‘infection, illness and death’ by travelling on a busy train while infected with Covid.

Margaret Ferrier, currently suspended by the SNP, travelled in and around Glasgow and to London in September 2020 after taking a Covid test because she had symptoms.

She spoke in the House of Commons while awaiting results, and then took the train from London to Glasgow after she had received confirmation of a positive test.

After denying the allegations against her at an earlier hearing, at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday the Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP admitted she had culpably and recklessly exposed the public ‘to the risk of infection, illness and death’.

The shamed politician, 61, is facing growing calls to stand down as an MP. The SNP has so far refused to say if the party will expel her.

During yesterday’s hearing, the court was told how Miss Ferrier did a test for Covid-19 on September 26, 2020, after showing virus symptoms, including a cough. The court heard she read to a congregation of about 45 people at a mass at St Mungo’s Church, Glasgow, before heading to a bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire, around 30 miles away. She then took a train to London on September 27 and spoke in the Commons later that day. A short time later, Miss Ferrier found out she had tested positive.

The court heard Scotland’s contact tracing programme tried to contact her three times and left two voicemails at about 10am that day before Miss Ferrier returned the call at about 2pm. She went back to her hotel, where she spent the night, before taking the train from London to Glasgow, knowing she had Covid.

Prosecutor Mark Allan told the court: ‘The conduct amounted to a reckless disregard of public safety.’

Graham Simpson, Scottish Conservative MSP, said: ‘ Margaret Ferrier’s actions at the height of the pandemic were reckless and indefensible. Her belated admission of guilt should now only accelerate the process of her doing the right thing and giving up being a MP.’ Sentencing has been deferred until next month. Miss Ferrier could face a custodial sentence. At sheriff courts the maximum sentence is five years in prison.