UK parliament watchdog says Scottish MP should be suspended for COVID breaches

30/3/2023 18:13

        A Scottish lawmaker faces a 30-day suspension from Britain's parliament after its standards committee said she had broken the rules when she made a long train journey when she had COVID-19, in a move which could end up triggering a by-election.
        
        Margaret Ferrier tested positive in September 2021 after speaking in Britain's House of Commons. Instead of isolating as was mandatory at the time for anyone with a positive test, she took a train more than 400 miles back to Scotland.
        
        Ferrier has apologised for what she has called "an error in judgment", but has resisted calls to resign.
        
        The Committee on Standards said on Thursday that Ferrier had committed "significant breaches" of five principles of the code of conduct for members of parliament, including selflessness, accountability, and honesty.
        
        Ferrier, who was at the time was a member of parliament for the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), was suspended from her party and now sits as an independent.