MP to appeal 30-day suspension recommendation after Covid rule breach

Margaret Ferrier is set to appeal against a 30-day ban from the House of Commons after breaching Covid rules.

The MP broke the pandemic safety rules when she spoke in parliament in September 2020 while awaiting the results of a Covid test which was positive.

The Commons’ Standards Committee recommended that the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West should be suspended for 30 days, however parliament are yet to determine her punishment.

If Ferrier, who won the seat for the SNP in 2019 but now sits as an independent, is barred from the Commons for ten days or more it could trigger a recall petition.

This would result in a by-election in the constituency – although 10% of voters there would need to support this for it to go ahead.

On Monday, Sir Stephen Irwin, chair of the Independent Expert Panel, confirmed Ferrier will appeal the 30-ban decision.

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