'DO THE RIGHT THING'
Margaret Ferrier should quit as SNP MP over Covid breaches, Nicola Sturgeon says
MARGARET Ferrier should quit as an SNP MP over her coronavirus breaches, Nicola Sturgeon said today.
The First Minister has already slammed Ms Ferrier for her decision to travel to London from Scotland with Covid symptoms, and said again she should step down.
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She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday the SNP had “done everything we can” to get her to resign from parliament.
It comes after the SNP MP revealed in an exclusive interview with The Sun she won't resign from her £80,000-a-year job
Ms Sturgeon led calls earlier this month for Ms Ferrier to quit after she took a train to London after falling ill, then travelled back to Glasgow having tested positive.
"I couldn't be clearer, she should step down from Parliament.
"The lapse of judgement in travelling hundreds of miles knowing she had tested positive for Covid-19 was so significant and so unacceptable that I don't think there is any other acceptable course of action for her.
"I've read her comments in the media today but I still hope she will do the right thing.
"Every day, I have to stand and ask people across the country to do horrendously difficult things, to not visit their loved ones, and right now I'm asking people to understand why they can't go to a pub or a restaurant.
"And it is unacceptable that somebody in her position flagrantly disregarded the rules like that and I cannot be clearer about that. It is not acceptable and she should resign."
'HOPE SHE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING'
Ms Ferrier, 60, insisted she “panicked” after finding out she had coronavirus — and took a 350-mile train trip back to Scotland.
The SNP politician said having the killer bug made her “act out of character” as she defended her decision.
Ms Ferrier said she was stunned to find out she was infected as her “tickly throat” had disappeared by then.
She said: "This has been an awful experience but I'll keep fighting for my constituents because that's who I am.
"I love my job. I made a mistake and I've apologised. I owned up to it and apologised profusely. I have a lot of support locally saying, 'We hope you stay and do the job.'"
The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West said she was “contrite” over her behaviour.
She said: “A lot of people say Covid makes you do things out of character. You are not thinking straight. I’m not making an excuse.
“At that moment when I thought it would come back negative and it was positive I was utterly shocked. You could have knocked me over.”
Ms Ferrier added: “While the last ten days have been a highly stressful situation I’m still continuing to work hard for my constituents while I’m unwell. I’m still continuing to work despite everything.
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“You feel you are getting a lot of criticism from people you thought were your colleagues or friends who’d understand it was an error of judgement. I’m not denying that.
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“People may be saying, ‘You should have known better, you’re a public figure.’
“But at the end of the day it still hurts. You then think about all that hard work and dedication — is that just wiped away?”
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