VIRUS MP: NOW POLICE STEP IN
Metropolitan force begins Covid breach investigation
POLICE in London last night launched an investigation into disgraced MP Margaret Ferrier after Nicola Sturgeon condemned her ‘ f l agrant and dangerous’ breach of coronavirus rules.
The Metropolitan force confirmed it is investigating Miss Ferrier’s actions, including the train journey she took from London to Glasgow on Tuesday, a day after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP, who has already admitted she breached Covid regulations, could face a £4,000 fine.
Last night, she was still clinging on to her job as an MP despite Miss Sturgeon making a personal plea to Miss Ferrier – who has been suspended by the SNP but not expelled from the party – to quit Westminster.
But she said the MP – who has referred herself to the parliamentary standards commissioner – did not tell her ‘one way or the other’ whether she would quit, which would force a by-election.
It came as it emerged that Miss Ferrier had visited a leisure centre and a number of businesses in her constituency on Saturday – the day she took the test that later showed she had the virus.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: ‘Her actions are utterly reckless and, in my view, make her unfit to be a Member of Parliament.’
Miss Ferrier made no further public comment yesterday and failed to respond to inquiries on whether she will quit.
The Metropolitan Police last night confirmed an investigation is under way into ‘reported breaches of the Health Protection Regulations 2020’ after Police Scotland were contacted by the MP on Thursday. The Met’s statement said: ‘Following consultation with Police Scotland, officers from the Metropolitan Police, working with British Transport Police, are conducting an i nvestigation i nto potential offences. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been informed.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Following consultation with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service earlier today, it was decided they and British Transport Police will investigate potential breaches of coronavirus legislation within their jurisdiction.’
On Thursday evening, Miss Ferrier released a statement apologising for ‘breaching Covid19 restrictions’.
She said she had booked a Covid test last Saturday after experiencing ‘mild symptoms’ but travelled to London by train on Monday, before she got the result of the test. She said that she received a positive test result on Monday evening then travelled home from London by train on Tuesday morning ‘without seeking advice’.
Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross, who previously quit as a UK Government minister in protest at Dominic Cummings’s refusal to stand down over his travel during lockdown, said the MP’s position is ‘completely untenable’.
He called on the SNP to expel her to ‘protect the public’s trust in the public health message’ and come clean about when the party became aware she had broke the law.
In a bad-tempered reply to questions about why Miss Ferrier was suspended rather than expelled by the SNP, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘Even political parties have to have a degree of due process and we have done everything I think could reasonably have been expected of us as quickly as possible.’
Asked about Miss Ferrier’s actions, Boris Johnson said it is ‘very important everyone follows the rules’ on coronavirus.
Last night, Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, suggested he was lied to by Miss Ferrier over her decision to come to the Commons on Monday. He told Cathy Newman on Times Radio he ‘wasn’t told the truth at the start of the week’.
‘Her actions are utterly reckless’
THE Commons Speaker reacted with fury yesterday over a two- day delay in him being told Margaret Ferrier had tested positive for coronavirus.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he learned about the Nationalist MP being infected while in the Speaker’s Chair around 4pm on Wednesday.
She had received a positive result for coronavirus on Monday evening after travelling to London and giving a speech in the Chamber.
He told Sky News: ‘Obviously this is completely reckless behaviour for a Member of Parliament.
‘To put staff and fellow MPs at risk is not acceptable.’
He added: ‘What made it worse was only being told on Wednesday.’
Sir Lindsay said that people’s lives had been put at risk because of the MP’s ‘ self- indulgence’, telling ITV News: ‘It’s not acceptable and they should consider their position.’
Once informed, staff went into ‘full swing’ to ensure the safety of staff and MPs, he said.
On Wednesday evening, the Speaker’s Office alerted DUP MP Jim Shannon that he had been identified as a close contact of an individual diagnosed with
Covid-19 after he was seated at the same dining table – with social distancing measures – as Miss Ferrier. Mr Shannon was still self-isolating yesterday.
The DUP said: ‘Mr Shannon sought and at all times has followed the advice of Public Health England and the House of Commons’ Covid-19 team in dealing with every element of this incident.’
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘ Margaret Ferrier has accepted that she has broken the law.
‘That’s now a matter for the police, the authorities who are investigating the matter, and it is really for her to consider what her political future is, and for her party, the SNP.’
Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, has written to the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, demanding answers about Miss Ferrier’s ‘catastrophic, negligent actions’.
Mr Murray’s letter asks 23 questions about the timeline of Miss Ferrier’s coronavirus test and subsequent positive result, details of when the SNP’s leaders, chief whip and party staff knew about her infection, and her contact with colleagues and parliamentary staff.
Mr Murray said: ‘ These revelations have caused a great deal of confusion and concern within Parliament.
‘ We are f aced with catastrophic, negligent actions by an MP which have put lives at risk. You and your party’s slow response leaves much to be desired, and the party must come forward with a full and clear explanation.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said Miss Ferrier ‘could have put any number’ of colleagues at risk and that ‘they in turn could have been unwittingly risking the lives of their own constituents’ once they went home.
He said the SNP ‘ needs to apologise to the rail staff and members of the public put at risk by Margaret Ferrier’s reckless decision to travel’.
An SNP spokesman said: ‘Miss Ferrier informed the SNP on Wednesday, when she was in Glasgow, that she had tested positive. The SNP’s chief whip immediately informed Parliament authorities.
‘The SNP only became aware on Thursday that Miss Ferrier had been tested prior to travelling to London and had travelled back to Glasgow, knowing she had a positive result.’
‘Catastrophic, negligent action’
‘Reckless decision to travel’