Forum Topic

SNP MP Ferrier Breaks Self-Isolation Rules

Coronavirus: SNP MP Margaret Ferrier apologises for travelling on public transport after positive COVID-19 test.And this woman squawked for Cummings to resign. The hypocrisy is breathtaking!  Worse still, how many others might she have infected? http://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-snp-mp-apologises-for-travelling-on-public-transport-after-positive-covid-19-test-12087104

Sue Hammond ● 2008d40 Comments

On reflection, perhaps people do care a bit about what Scottish people do whilst in London. So there remains one essential difference.Nicola Sturgeon can't sack Ferrier, but would if she could and has publicly stated as such. She has taken the whip from Ferrier, which is as much as she can do.Boris Johnson can sack Cummings but didn't and won't. Instead he let him hold a press conference to try to justify his behaviour, continues to back him, employ him and rely on his advice.

Michael Winstanley ● 2006d

They all claim expenses for their London home or hotels.

Andy Pike ● 2006d

Once this MP's positive result came through when she was in London, where was she supposed to quarantine for 14 days? She must have felt obliged to travel down to London to make her speech in the first place, and then thought it better to go back home, let's assume wearing a mask on a fairly empty train. The daft thing here is that MPs still travel up and down the country at considerable expense to speak in a deserted House of Commons for a few minutes. She could easily have done her speech remotely, but I gather MPs are under pressure to set a 'good example and go in to work'.

Peter Evans ● 2006d

Oops, meant to include that Cummings "indirectly" exposed all in the UK to harm

Michael Ixer ● 2006d

The way I look at it is Ferrier's reckless actions directly expised many people in Parliament, on trains and other locations to harm but Cummings' actions undermined the completed social distancing and lockdown strategy because of a loss of trust in it so potentially harmed all in the UK.

Michael Ixer ● 2006d

Probably what you mean Ms Hammond is that "Cummings is a Conservative and a key advisor to my political leader and hero Johnson whilst Ferrier is an SNP MP, and you all know how I despise the Scots".

John Hawkes ● 2006d

We’ll have to differ on Cummings, Sue. He undermined the government‘s efforts to control the virus, arguably worse than Ferrier’s idiocy. There were numerous calls from Tory MPs at the time for Cummings to be fired and it is interesting that the Tory party line on Ferrier is not to call for her resignation. That’s been left to every other party in Parliament.  I wonder why?

Jonathan Callaway ● 2006d

Sometimes I can see exactly why the Scots want out of the Union.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2006d

It didnt happen in Scotland. In case you missed it Parliament is in London as is the rail terminal from Glasgee and the tube presumably. So we do care what happens in London and all stations to Glasgow.

Andy Pike ● 2006d

"Also no-one really cares very much what happens in Scotland apart from the Scots who live there". Really???

Caroline Whitehead ● 2006d

Hi Jonathan.  I think there is a certain amount of mitigation allowed for Cummings. I say this because he socially isolated himself and his family when staying in the house in Durham, and at the hospital and on the trip to Barnard Castle they socially distanced from other people; a cynic might say that was probably done because he didn't want to be recognised. Ferrier in the other hand has no mitigating factors for her totally reckless behaviour.

Sue Hammond ● 2007d

Nicola Sturgeon can't sack Ferrier, but would if she could and has publicly stated as such.Boris Johnson can sack Cummings but didn't and won't.Also no-one really cares very much what happens in Scotland apart from the Scots who live there. Whereas the whole nation has been made aware of the Cummings affair and cares about it (else why bother with the Rose Garden).These are the essential differences.

Michael Winstanley ● 2007d

Well, theh Cummings issue was a rather big one!Treat each other on its [lack of] merits, I agree.As you say, using Cummings as a sort of benchmark that somehow justifies their stupidity.You said it perfectly, thank you!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2007d

Both Ferrier and Cummings were wrong, but in different ways. She has put a lot of people at risk, he flouted rules the rest of us were obeying and by defending him Johnson compounded the damage done to trust in the government and its efforts keep the virus under control. How else can you look at these two cases?

Jonathan Callaway ● 2007d

@Michael 16.49The reports of her recklessness are growing. I just read online that on the same day she had her Covid test she also visited local shops, a leisure centre gym and a beauty salon; although the last one would have been a waste of time in my opinion.  These are not unsubstantiated rumours because it was on her own Twitter feed.Teens and young adults have been ignoring the social distancing rules for months.

Sue Hammond ● 2007d

Andy I don't see him as a benchmark at all, I despise all parties equally LOL

Maxine Campbell ● 2007d

All you are fdoing is giving a free pass to any paid politician that acts like a pratt by bringing the Cummins issue up. Treat each case on its merits instead if using Cummings as a  sort of benchmark that somehow justifies their stupidity.

Andy Pike ● 2007d

And instead of sacking Cummings he let him have that ludicrous rose garden attempt at vindicating himself!

Caroline Whitehead ● 2007d

Insult aside Sue Nicolas Sturgeon was straight and firm and made it clear that she was not happy and asked for resignation, whether or not it happens is something else. Boris skirts away from confrontation and would not do the same. I guess he has too much to lose if he had sacked Cummings before January 2021.

Maxine Campbell ● 2007d

Ms HammondI quite agree with you in terms of the seriousness and potential harm to others of Cummings' and Ferrier's trips.Cummings probably put few at risk but none the less made it clear there was one rule for the elite ie him (and Dad Stanley we read today) and another for the proles ie the rest of us.And it certainly put the credibility of Johnson's  lockdown strategy in jeopardy just as it started.Ferrier also must think she is above the laws she enacts for others and really should be hit with a big fine.But what makes me smile about her behaviour is that she obviously felt she was doing the country a great Constitutional service by popping down to the HoC for an over night visit. (What did that cost the taxpayer ?)What was she going to reveal ?A new SNP Covid prevention master plan or perhaps a whisky based vaccine ?No, all she said was firstly how she wanted to pay tribute to key workers in her constituency (a£se licking grovel).Then she launched into a Tory bashing diatribe saying that the Chancellor would detrimentally effect many of her constituency's businesses if he mishandled the end of furlough payments (not a particularly original thought), before launching into an SNP rant about how this could be like how Scots were hit by the Tories in the 80s before then basically calling again for Scottish independence so that they could look after themselves (with whose money ?!)In fact just self-aggrandising political posturing which added nothing to help the Government and the country get through the pandemic.The self-importance of it all.It just shows how stupid and un-self aware she and so many MPs are. Well it went well for her didn't it !

John Hawkes ● 2007d

Unfortunately, no one, including Sturgeon, is in a position to force Ferrier to resign whereas Johnson could have sacked Cummings. Ferrier's actions were more harmful than Cummings' were as she had the potential to infect numerous people on the trains betweeen London and Scotland, and in the Houses of Parliament whereas Cummings' actions were more damaging because his high profile and importance to Johnson caused  massive loss of trust, and probably a loss sympathy that people might have had for Johnson, so, as we see, many particularly some younger people are just ignoring the rules.

Michael Ixer ● 2007d

Wee Krankie has now told Ferrier to resign.

Sue Hammond ● 2007d

Sorry Ed I forgot about the hospital visit when his son was unwell but the alleged sightseeing trips were reported but never proven by anybody, I suspect that was #### stirring by people who didn't like him.  Cummings was a fool and it has given people a convenient excuse to break the rules.  Boris must be fuming at all the trouble DC has caused by his stupidity but he is probably too important at this point to be sacked.  However I still think Cummings' actions were far less dangerous than Ferrier's.

Sue Hammond ● 2007d

Sue, I believe it was reported that DC also made a trip to a local hospital as well as various sight seeing or testing tours.Unfortunately it broke the people's trust. No excuse for other people to follow but it does set a bad precedence.

Ed Robinson ● 2007d

@Andy 1.10.20  23.26The huge difference is that Cummings was travelling with his wife and child and they self-isolated in a separate house from his parents, food provisions were delivered by a relative and left outside the front door, therefore causing no risk to anyone.  Even his infamous car journey when he sat on a bench with his wife and son was of no risk to anyone else because they were on their own, it was only because a man walking past recognised him and ran to the newspapers that blew the whole thing up into a ridiculous drama.  He was wrong in making the journey during lockdown but he did not put dozens of people at risk like this stupid woman has.  One train journey when she was symptomatic and awaiting the result of a Covid test, plus a session in the HoC and another train journey when she knew she was Covid positive!  Fgs how many people could the stupid b1tch have infected?

Sue Hammond ● 2007d

That's how it was reported Michael. Completely unnecessary to come to London in the first place never mind the return!

Ed Robinson ● 2007d

Clifford. I did wonder about that but my understanding is she felt unwell and had a test before travelling from Scotland to London, although she didn't get the result of the test until in London. The guidance is: if she felt the need to take a test she should have isolated at home in Scotland, not travelled to London. Of course we don't know if the cessation of remote voting has made other MPs tempted to travel to !London when they've felt unwell?

Michael Ixer ● 2007d

An understanding wish to simply be back home - perhaps some sympathy is due.

Clifford Cowell ● 2007d

"and its months since the Cummings gaff"Perhaps she had an eye sight issues and thought it safer to take the train!There is a pattern here which is a lack of respect for other people's health, be it DC or Margaret Ferrier.The international travel arrangements have never made any sense.The same number meeting in or outside doesn't make any sense. It should always be more outside as ventilation is a factor. People should be encouraged to meet out side and numbers should have been set accordingly.The 10pm thing doesn't make any sense either.Welcome to 2020 :-)

Ed Robinson ● 2008d

I think I said at the time that Cummings should have gone. But his actions surely had no impact on the actions of a parliamentary law maker.

Andy Pike ● 2008d

I am sorry to say I disagree with you up to a point.This elected MP made a desperately horrible mistake, there again, she has very little influence compared to Dominic Cummings.The fact that DC was not sacked for his gaff all those months ago does not mean it is less damaging.I think this discussion boils down to where on the fence you are.  If it is a Tory you can excuse, if of any other party you cannot.Nicola Sturgeon has criticized Margaret Ferrier's behaviour and I agree with her.It is also true to say that the "law" is descending on her drastically - but surprise surprise, it does not on other people in the shape of DC, who, by the way, is still in his post.And, it does not reply to my comment that people who arrive from wherever in Heathrow, if they have a temperature, they are expected to go to their address by public transport.And I agree, Durham is a lot closer to London than Rutherglen and Hamilton West.The intent in both cases is exactly the same.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2008d

Yes Yvonne but this dopey woman is an elected member of Parliament and its months since the Cummings gaff and he wasnt on public transport for 5 hours each way . Her party leader is laying down the law in Scotland ( rightly,) so must feel very let down by one of her own.

Andy Pike ● 2008d

Stupid, reckless and downright antisocial.

Michael Ixer ● 2008d

And Cummings?

Michael Winstanley ● 2008d

Oh, and by the way, did Dominic Cummings not do something similar?  Drive from London to Durham when he and his wife had symptoms?  OK, it was not on public transport but did they stop at a petrol station at any time?And please, let us not refer to "that" eyesight test!Hypocrisy?  I abounds in no uncertain terms!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2008d

Totally!  But it is the same with people arriving at Heathrow, they have a temperature, they are asked to go to their "residence", be it by coach, tube or taxi...Fair enough, it is a temperature test and not a COVID-19 test.  Has anybody said anywhere how the people who have temperature or the test result are supposed to get back home?  No, use public transport.Contradiction anywhere?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2008d

Stupid, stupid thing to do!

Jonathan Callaway ● 2008d

Ah, it says on the guardian that she got the results and then travelled back to Scotland on the train.Ridiculous.

Matt Palmer ● 2008d

The article contradicts itself by first saying she travelled after testing positive and then only says she travelled after having the test. If it's the latter then i'm not sure she broke the rules?Still really stupid though!

Matt Palmer ● 2008d

She's been suspended and the whip removed.

Sue Hammond ● 2008d