MP under police investigation after taking Covid to the Commons

An SNP MP broke Covid laws twice by bringing coronavirus into Parliament before travelling home to Scotland on a train despite knowing she had the virus.

SNP frontbencher Margaret Ferrier was under police investigation on Thursday night and faces a potential £4,000 fine for "reckless" behaviour after testing positive for the virus on Monday.

The MP then failed to inform her party of her test result, keeping it secret for two days. It was not until Wednesday that the party was told and was able to notify Parliamentary authorities.

She was suspended by the SNP on Thursday night as Commons authorities and NHS contact tracers scrambled to track down everyone she had come into contact with and began a deep clean of Parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, said Ms Ferrier's actions were "utterly indefensible" as her future as an MP was called into question.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It's hard to express just how angry I feel on behalf of people across the country making hard sacrifices every day to help beat Covid. The rules apply to everyone, and they're in place to keep people safe."

Ms Ferrier also faced accusations of hypocrisy after she had called for Dominic Cummings' resignation following his lockdown-breaking trip to Durham earlier this year.

The 60-year-old Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP took a coronavirus test after feeling unwell at the weekend but failed to self-isolate while she waited for the results, instead taking a train 380 miles to London.

While in the capital she attended the House of Commons and made a speech to Parliament at 7.15pm on Monday evening. She received her results the same evening, although it is unclear whether this was before or after her speech.

She received a positive test result on Monday night but, instead of self-isolating at her London home in accordance with the law, took a train back to Scotland and only went public with her confession on Thursday.

The Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was said to be "furious" after only finding out about the positive test on Wednesday night, 48 hours late.

In a statement, Ms Ferrier said: "I apologise unreservedly for breaching Covid-19 restrictions by travelling this week when I shouldn't have. There is no excuse for my actions.

"On Saturday afternoon, after experiencing mild symptoms, I requested a Covid-19 test, which I took that day. Feeling much better, I then travelled to London by train on Monday to attend Parliament as planned. This was wrong, and I am very sorry for my mistake.

"On Monday evening, I received a positive test result for Covid-19. I travelled home by train on Tuesday morning without seeking advice. This was also wrong, and I am sorry. I have been self-isolating at home ever since.

"I have used Test and Protect and I have notified the House of Commons authorities, who have spoken with Public Health England. I have also notified the police of my actions.

"Despite feeling well, I should have self-isolated while waiting for my test result, and I deeply regret my actions. I take full responsibility and I would urge everyone not to make the same mistakes that I have, and do all they can to help limit the spread of Covid-19."

Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader was on Thursday night forced to suspend Ms Ferrier, the party's spokesperson for manufacturing, but also faced questions over how long it took for him to inform Parliament.

The Telegraph understands that Sir Lindsay was only notified of the major breach on Wednesday, prompting Parliament to scramble together an emergency plan to identify colleagues and staff she may have infected. One member of Commons staff is understood to be self-isolating after coming into contact with Ms Ferrier.

A senior Parliamentary source said Test and Trace had already been deployed to try and identify contacts, with at least one person potentially having to self-isolate.

On Thursday night the SNP's David Linden, whose constituency neighbours Ms Ferrier's, told BBC Question Time that she should resign as an MP.

SNP MP Kirsty Blackman later tweeted: "I agree with David Linden. Margaret Ferrier must resign.

Each of the Holyrood opposition parties; The Conservatives, Labour, the Green Party and the Lib Dems, said the MP's position was untenable on Thursday night.

However, there are also fears that Ms Ferrier may have come into contact with a number of other people while using public transport, and she was accused of "dangerous and disgraceful" behaviour by a train drivers' union.

The Aslef union tweeted: "Rail staff have worked throughout this pandemic to make sure the network could serve the public. We've worked day in, day out to keep our railway as safe as possible for passengers and staff. For an MP to get on a train knowing she has Covid-19 is both dangerous and disgraceful."

On September 25, the day before she began feeling unwell and requested a test, Ms Ferrier also met police officers in her constituency. The incubation period of the virus means that she could have been infected at the time that meeting took place.

On Thursday morning, Sir Lindsay summoned the SNP's chief whip, Patrick Grady, for an emergency meeting during which he made clear that Ms Ferrier had broken the law. He is understood to have made his anger at the situation known to Mr Grady and that it was up to the party to take action.

Mr Blackford is said to have only been alerted to the scandal after the meeting took place. Shortly after 7pm on Thursday, he confirmed that he had suspended the whip from Ms Ferrier and asked her to refer herself to the police and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

An SNP spokesperson said Ms Ferrier informed the party on Wednesday that she has tested positive at which point the party's chief whip  "immediately informed Parliament authorities."

"The SNP only became aware on Thursday that Ms Ferrier had been tested prior to travelling to London and had travelled back to Glasgow, knowing that she had a positive result," they added.

On Monday night, shortly before receiving her test result, Ms Ferrier made a Commons speech in which she paid tribute "to all NHS key workers and volunteers in my constituency for their care and commitment over the past seven months".

Her actions means she could face a fine of up to £4,000 under coronavirus regulations, announced earlier this week, targeted at people who "recklessly" break self-isolation.

Ian Murray, Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, described her actions as "astonishing recklessness" which had endangered people's lives. He said that to breach the rules twice was "simply unforgivable" and urged Ms Sturgeon to set out what disciplinary action would be taken.

Others accused Ms Ferrier of hypocrisy, pointing out that she had previously claimed Mr Cummings' position as Boris Johnson's chief adviser was "untenable" after his trip to Durham (see how that controversy unfolded in the video below).

Speaking at the time, she said: "The public health advice is crystal clear. For the safety of others, anyone with coronavirus symptoms must self-isolate, in line with Government guidance. They should not leave the house for any reason.

"Dominic Cummings' actions have undermined the sacrifices that we have all been making in lockdown to protect each other from coronavirus. His position is untenable and he must be removed from his post now."

In the days that followed, she repeatedly criticised ministers for failing to condemn Mr Cummings' actions, adding that there was a "deafening silence" from the Scottish Conservatives.

On Thursday night, the Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson said: "Margaret Ferrier should listen to her own words, do the right thing and resign. If she's shameless enough to try and stay on after acting so recklessly, Nicola Sturgeon must sack her. Margaret Ferrier would expect nothing less."

A House of Commons spokesman said: "An MP has confirmed that they have been diagnosed with coronavirus. The House's priority is to ensure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated.

"We have closely followed public health guidance on the action to take following a confirmed case of Covid on site. Parliament has a dedicated team to support the test and trace teams across the UK, acting as a central point of contact in the event of any suspected or confirmed cases, where an individual has been working on the estate.

"We are also implementing a number of cleaning measures to ensure those working on the estate can maintain a clean and hygienic working environment and ensuring Parliament adheres to the Government's 'working safely during coronavirus' guidance.

"Our risk assessment outlines the measures we have already put in place to reduce the risk of transmission in Parliament. The Speakers and political leadership of both Houses are keeping the situation under constant review."