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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andrew Quinn

Joanna Cherry claims treatment of former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier by party colleagues is 'shameful'

An SNP MP has said that the treatment of Margaret Ferrier by her former colleagues has been "shameful".

Edinburgh South West MP Cherry said that former SNP MP Ferrier "is a thoroughly decent woman who made a bad mistake" and that she was "one of the most loyal hard working activists in the SNP" beforehand.

Ferrier could face a by-election after the House of Commons standards committee recommended on Thursday that she receives a 30-day suspension for breaching Covid rules.

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP lost the SNP whip and received a criminal conviction after travelling from London to Glasgow by train while infected with Covid at the height of the pandemic.

The House of Commons will now vote on whether her suspension should be put in place.

If 10 per cent of her constituents sign a petition, she will face a by-election.

First Minister Humza Yousaf, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have all said that Ferrier should resign.

But Cherry said that her former colleague had not been treated well by some in the party.

She tweeted on Friday morning: "The way Margaret Ferrier has been treated by some of her former comrades is shameful.

"She is a thoroughly decent woman who made a bad mistake for which she has already paid dearly.

"Prior to that she was one of the most loyal hard working activists in the SNP."

Ferrier was given 270 hours of community service in September 2022 after pleading guilty to breaking Covid travel rules.

She did a Covid on September 26, 2020 after showing Covid symptoms, including a cough.

While waiting for her results, she travelled in and around Glasgow as well as between Scotland and London.

Ferrier also spoke in the Houses of Parliament and visited other locations in London.

She was suspended by the SNP in October 2020.

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