Boris Johnson allies accused of planning to block Margaret Ferrier suspension

Ferrier was found to have put people at risk after taking part in a Commons debate and travelling by train while she had Covid in September 2020. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Reuters

Allies of Boris Johnson have been accused of preparing to block a motion to suspend the disgraced Scottish MP Margaret Ferrier, leading the government to postpone the vote in parliament.

It is believed that supporters of the former prime minister feared that a vote to suspend Ferrier for 30 days over a breach of Covid-19 rules could set a precedent if Johnson faced a similar vote.