Margaret Ferrier can now return to the House of Commons after serving a 30-day suspension.
The Rutherglen & Hamilton West representative was issued with a ban from the chamber after the parliamentary standards committee ruled that she had breached the members’ code of conduct when she “knowingly and recklessly” travelled to and from London with Covid-19 in September 2020.
With the sanction starting on June 7, its term of 30 consecutive days has now been completed allowing the independent member to return to Westminster – but the recall petition which could result in a by-election in the constituency remains open for electors’ signatures for a further three weeks.
Ms Ferrier travelled from her constituency to London while symptomatic with Covid and awaiting a test outcome, and then home again after receiving a positive result – resulting in her pleading guilty to a court charge of culpable and reckless conduct, carrying out 270 hours of community service and losing the SNP whip.
House of Commons officials confirmed to Lanarkshire Live that the suspension period has now expired and that the MP would be able to “return to her duties” at the parliament.
She unsuccessfully appealed against the suspension following the committee’s original decision in March; with its length meaning that a recall petition has been opened to allow voters in her constituency to call for the right to go back to the polls.
The petition – the first of its kind in Scotland since the relevant legislation was introduced eight years ago – opened three weeks ago following notification from the Commons Speaker, and will close on July 31.
It would need 10 per cent of electors in the constituency to sign in its support to trigger a by-election.
The petition closes at 5pm on Monday, July 31, after which South Lanarkshire officials will count the papers, notify the Speaker of the House of Commons and then publicise the outcome.
Constituents wishing to sign can do so at their designated local venue, with stations having been set up at Blantyre Leisure Centre, Cambuslang Institute, Fernhill Community Centre, Rutherglen Town Hall, Lifestyles centres at Eastfield in Rutherglen and Fairhill in Hamilton, and at the South Lanarkshire election office at Beckford Street in Hamilton.
It can be signed between 9am and 5pm each day, with extended evening and weekend opening hours having been arranged on a further four dates throughout the remaining signing period.
Ms Ferrier has been continuing her constituency work during the Commons suspension period, with her latest constituency update highlighting engagements including visits to Rutherglen Exchange Shopping Centre, Stonelaw Church, Blantyre Miners’ gardens and a community event plus work on pension issues.
The MP, who has sat as an independent since losing the SNP whip in October 2020, said in a website statement last month: “It is ultimately up to the people of Rutherglen & Hamilton West to decide what happens next – not Westminster, not Holyrood, and certainly not any political party.
“I made a mistake, for which I continue to apologise and have faced severe punishment; it has not deterred me from doing right by constituents and continuing to fight on their behalf, [and] I hope that my constituents will recognise this.”
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