MP Margaret Ferrier pleads guilty to breaching Covid rules by travelling on train

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An MP who travelled from Scotland to London after being told to self-isolate during the pandemic has pleaded guilty to breaking Covid rules.

Margaret Ferrier, who sits as an independent for Rutherglen and Hamilton West after having the Scottish National Party whip removed, admitted putting people at risk of “infection, illness and death” at a hearing at Glasgow’s Sheriff Court on Thursday morning.

In September 2020, when no vaccine had yet been developed, Ferrier, 61, put others at risk by visiting places including Lifestyle Leisure Centre, Vanilla Salon, gift shop Sweet P Boutique in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, St Mungo’s Church in Glasgow, and Vic’s Bar in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, after booking a Covid test.

Ferrier, of Cambuslang, is said to have taken a taxi from Cambuslang to Glasgow Central Station, and from there to have travelled on a train to London Euston and back. She is said to have visited the Houses of Parliament in the capital, along with other places unknown to prosecutors.

Having booked a test for Covid-19, stating in the booking application that she was suffering from symptoms of the disease, and having been told to self-isolate, she put people at risk between 26 and 29 September 2020 by travelling throughout Glasgow and the surrounding areas, and travelling between Glasgow and London.

She 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.

At a hearing in July, the court was told that Ferrier had failed “to disclose to representatives of Test and Protect national contact tracing centre NHS Scotland that you entered the Houses of Parliament in London on September 28 2020”.

Prosecutors said she had “culpably and recklessly” put people at risk by visiting several places in Glasgow and by her visits in London.

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