MP Margaret Ferrier loses appeal over Commons ban for Covid rule breaches

Margaret Ferrier has lost her appeal against a proposed 30-day ban from the House of Commons over Covid rule breaches, paving the way for a byelection in the MP’s Scottish constituency.

The former Scottish National party MP was found to have damaged the reputation of the House of Commons and put people at risk after taking part in a debate and travelling by train while she had Covid in September 2020.

The failure of her appeal could now trigger a recall petition in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, where a byelection would provide Labour with an opportunity to contest a seat in Scotland, where it hopes to make gains in the general election.

The seat was won by the SNP in 2019 and by Labour in 2017, and would also be a crucial electoral test for Scotland’s new first minister, Humza Yousaf, whose party has been mired in financial scandal and personal clashes.

Any suspension of 10 or more working days automatically triggers a recall petition, which, if signed by 10% of constituents, leads to a byelection.

The length of the Ferrier’s suspension was also a cause of alarm for backers of Boris Johnson, who is being investigated by the privileges committee about breaches of Covid rules in Downing Street, and who is hoping to avoid a similar lengthy sanction, which may prompt a byelection in his Uxbridge seat.

An independent expert panel on Monday dismissed Ferrier’s appeal, stating that it had “no substance” after the Commons standards committee recommended her suspension in March.

“The first stage of the appeal process has not been met. The sanction imposed was neither unreasonable nor disproportionate. For these reasons, this appeal is dismissed.”

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, said that a byelection had now moved “one step closer” in the constituency, where the party already has a candidate in the form of Michael Shanks, a modern studies teacher who lives locally.

“It is simply disgraceful that this community has been left without proper representation due to the actions of Margaret Ferrier,” said Baillie.

“Only by electing Michael Shanks as Scottish Labour MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West can the people of the area get the representation and the clean start that they deserve.”

By contrast, the Scottish National party (SNP) has been struggling to find a suitable candidate to contest the seat.

Ferrier, who lost the SNP whip, was sentenced to carry out 270 hours of community service after pleading guilty to breaching Covid rules. Ferrier won a majority of 5,230 at the last general election, with Labour finishing second.

The breach of the rules occurred in September 2020, when Ferrier developed symptoms and took a Covid test but the next day attended church and had lunch with a family member.

Two days later, while awaiting the results of a Covid test, she travelled by train to London, took part in a parliamentary debate and ate in the members’ tearoom. She then travelled home to Glasgow by train the next morning, a journey of up to five hours, despite being told she had tested positive.