MP Margaret Ferrier admits exposing public to Covid by taking train after being told to self-isolate

MP Margaret Ferrier has pleaded guilty to breaching Covid rules by travelling on a train between Scotland and London after being told to self-isolate in September 2020.

In a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday, Ferrier admitted that she culpably and recklessly exposed the public to risk of Covid-19 infection.

The 61-year-old visited places including the Houses of Parliament, a church and a bar and also took a taxi journey.

Ferrier, a former SNP MP, who is now an independent representative for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, admitted wilfully exposing people “to the risk of infection, illness and death” by visiting various areas of Glasgow and London after being told to self-isolate in late September 2020.

While awaiting results, the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West spoke in the Houses of Parliament and visited elsewhere in London.

A court heard she then took the train home to Glasgow after being told she had tested positive for Covid-19.

Ferrier did a test for Covid-19 on September 26 after showing symptoms, including a cough.

A short time after, she found out she had tested positive for the virus.

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The court heard Test and Protect had tried to contact her three times and left two voicemails at about 10am that day before Ferrier returned the call at about 2pm, almost four hours later.

The MP, who was present in court on Thursday, informed Patrick Grady, the then chief whip, and who she had spoken to while in the Commons.

Mr Grady was told the following day at a meeting at the Speaker’s Office in the House of Commons that Ferrier needed to report her actions to Police Scotland.

Ferrier contacted police and informed them of her breach before sending out a statement on her social media.

In January 2021, she was charged with culpable and reckless conduct, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mark Allan told the court: “The conduct amounted to a reckless disregard of public safety.”

He read out statements from medical experts who assisted Police Scotland in their investigation on Ferrier.

One of them was from public health expert Dr Andrew Riley who told officers: “On receiving the positive result, the accused should have immediately self isolated and sought public health advice on what to do next,” adding that Ferrier would have been infectious “probably for the next seven to 10 days.”

Ferrier had the SNP whip removed in 2020 after the allegations emerged, and has come under pressure to resign from her seat, but remains an MP.

She had been due to go on trial this week, but pleaded guilty on Thursday.

Sentencing was deferred pending legal reports until September.