Scottish MP visited bar and leisure centre while suffering from Covid, court hears
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
An MP accused of illegally travelling by train from Scotland to the House of Commons with coronavirus symptoms also visited a bar more than 30 miles from her home while potentially infectious, it is alleged.
Margaret Ferrier, who represents Rutherglen and Hamilton West, is alleged to have made a series of journeys, despite being told to self-isolate, between September 26 and 29 last year.
The former SNP politician, who now sits as an independent, has been charged with culpable and reckless conduct by Scottish prosecutors.
MP absent from hearing
At the court hearing on Wednesday, which she did not attend, further details emerged of the allegations against her.
She is said to have visited Vic’s Bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire, which is a 45-minute drive from her home in Cambuslang, a town on the outskirts of Glasgow.
Ms Ferrier is also said to have visited a leisure centre, a boutique gift shop and a salon in Rutherglen, which is close to her home.
She is alleged to have gone to a cafe in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, a 30-minute drive from her home, and St Mungo’s Church in Glasgow.
The 61-year-old is then accused of taking a taxi trip from her home in Cambuslang to Glasgow Central train station.
Alleged cross-border round-trip
It is claimed that she travelled to London Euston station and elsewhere in the English capital, including the Houses of Parliament. Ms Ferrier then made the return journey to Glasgow from London by train, a charge against her stated.
No plea was made by Paul Kavanagh, her lawyer, at a hearing on Wednesday in Glasgow Sheriff Court to the single charge.
She has refused calls to stand down as an MP, and as it stands will hold on to her £81,932 per year job until parliament is dissolved before the next general election, which must be held by May 2024.
A further hearing was fixed for January by Sheriff Paul Reid, who excused Ms Ferrier from attending court in person.
Ms Ferrier was granted bail in the meantime.
