Johnson says Ferrier scandal ‘a matter for the SNP’

The Prime Minister has refused to say whether an SNP MP who breached coronavirus rules multiple times should quit, saying it is a matter for Nicola Sturgeon’s party.

Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier took an 800-mile train journey from Westminster to Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19.

She had already travelled south by rail to attend parliament despite developing symptoms of the virus and having to book a test.

In a sit-down interview with STV News, Boris Johnson insisted “everyone should obey” Covid rules – but stopped short of condemning Ferrier or saying she should resign.

[rantinghippie]

I certainly don’t trust the Scottish government and I don’t particularly trust the British government, but the British government has a far far harder job. And I don’t think it’s fair to compare. Nicola sturgeon however handled this well. Dominic Cummings wasn’t mixing with people that’s the difference in circumstances. This complete moron and utter disgrace to the Scottish people travelled on a train, addressed parliament then travelled back to Scotland potentially spreading the virus to hundreds. My opinion a massive fine is in order. I don’t like that people continually try and trip Boris up, he does that enough himself and the British prime minister is a far harder than the Scottish first minister has. Also i wonder what old Nic would’ve done if this hadn’t come into the public eye. My guess is nothing.

[steevsmith]

The 62-year-old told the commissioner her decision to travel home after she got a positive test result 'was made whilst in a state of shock and anxiety, even panic'.

'I did not at any time believe that I was acting in my own self-interest but believed I was taking the safest step in the unfortunate set of circumstances that I had myself created when I made the decision to travel to London, a poor decision which I now bitterly regret, ' she added.

Though she has admitted some "reckless liability"on this & accepted the guilt, I think in particular, Margaret Ferrier has been well & truly scapegoated over this one by Parliament & particularly by the media.

Ferrier was ill with Covid after the test came back Positive in Sept 2020.

Like anyone else would be, certainly at the time in Sept 2020, she was likely worried & frightened about her own health & obviously, if not driving, as she had caught a train to work, the thing to do was to get back home, by train, & isolate, which, is what she did.

(Perhaps, apart from being ill, she had no-one at home to look after important things, or feed pets, etc?...so 2 weeks in a London hotel was not a feasible option for her, or for anyone else in that kind of situation.)

She has admitted the reckless bit, the other activities, Church, bar, work/speech, HofC cafe, etc, are all hindsight, as the test result took 4 days to come back to her....fair enough, & she learned of the positive on the Monday evening at .. but, I think she has been thrown to the Wolves by Sturgeon, the SNP, & by Parliament over the incident.

She now sits as an Independent, & is a "regular weekly face at PMQs, sitting just in front of the DUP area.

The important things to note here, for the BOZO enquiry precedent are
:- a. She has the RIGHT TO APPEAL the committee decision, ergo BOZO likewise!
b. It is not clear just how soon the HofC will vote to agree or not, a 30 day ban &
c.IF she does have to face a 10% plus by-election recall, she may just well retain her seat, as she is a GOOD constituency MP, with the SNP & Labour lot taking votes from each other?

[insanelyinsensitive]

She broke the law..it's a matter for the police.

[declanpaxton]

Scottish people voted no.. people are frustrated because of one option was made doesn’t mean wee Al agree lol. We’re is Peter murrels apology

[johnmatthews]

What a dreadful aggressive interviewer.

[jerryhickey]

I believe boris is still the right man for the job no matter what the lefties say the hate coming from the left is disgusting the right to have a difference of opinion is sneered upon if your not a lefty they call you far right racists