Margaret Ferrier has been branded "desperate" after the disgraced MP begged constituents not to sign a recall petition to remove her from office.
A by-election will be triggered in Rutherglen and Hamilton West if more than 8,113 registered voters sign their names in support.
The recall petition opened today and a steady stream of locals could be seen entering Rutherglen Town Hall to sign it.
The seat is viewed as a key Labour target and the party is actively encouraging voters to use one of the seven signing places across the constituency before the July 31 deadline.
Ferrier, who was elected as an SNP MP, has sat as an independent since she was found to have broken strict coronavirus rules in 2020.
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Despite losing the party whip she has steadfastly refused to resign despite facing calls to do so from both Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.
She said yesterday: "I do not have any desire or need to play into party politics, which inevitably distracts from constituency issues and the needs of local residents.
“While parties have already spent months arguing about their candidates for a by-election that has not even been confirmed, they have disregarded the very real issues faced by many in our community."
"If you wish to see me continue as your MP, then do not sign the petition paper," she added.
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour deputy leader, told the Record: "I find it astonishing that Margaret Ferrier, who was elected as an SNP MP, is now denying she is political at all.
"I think it is a mark of desperation - she's desperate to cling on to this seat, at whatever cost.
"But I don't think she's doing a favour to the people of this area. They have been without a decent, hard-working representative for ages now.
"She took the decision, as a lawmaker, to break the law by travelling when she was covid positive. She could have endangered many, many people through her reckless actions."
Michael Shanks, the Labour candidate if a by-election is called, insisted voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West were still angry at Ferrier's refusal to resign.
"The reality is people here know what Margaret Ferrier's record is. She pled guilty in court to that record," he told the Record.
"People are still as angry now as they were three years ago about that.
"Everybody has a story from that time of putting their lives on hold and following the rules and doing the right thing.
'We did the right thing and Margaret Ferrier failed do that. I think it's a shame it's taken three years to get to this stage, but it's right people now have the chance to decide what happens.
"People in any other line of work would be out of their job for what she did.
"If people want change, they need to come out and vote for it."
Ferrier was earlier this month suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days following an investigation by parliamentary authorities.
She was found to have travelled from Scotland to Westminster after testing for Covid in September 2020 and went on to speak in the House of Commons while waiting for the results.
After the test confirmed she was positive for the virus the MP still decided to take the train back to Scotland.
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