Anonymous:
Margaret Ferrier MP, was wrong in her conduct at the start of the Covid pandemic. However, the way in which she has been treated by the media, by political opponents and by members of her own party is reminiscent of a lynch mob and of the original concept of the ‘scapegoat’.
Of course it was right that her conduct was investigated and that some kind of sanction was imposed. Several thousand private citizens were fined for similar misbehaviour but, compare how Johnson and Sunak and many of their party colleagues were treated for even more egregious behaviour – millions of pounds for speaking engagements, decoding Prime Minister, getting ‘honours’ and billets in the Lords.
Even if Jesus were to be the SNP candidate in Hamilton West and Rutherglen he would be smeared and excoriated by association with Ms Ferrier, whose misconduct as reported by the media is worse than the Yorkshire Ripper, Jimmy Savile, the Great Train Robbers.
stewartb
I agree with you regarding how Ms Ferrier has been treated. The severity of her treatment goes beyond IMHO what is reasonable. The glee with which she personally and her seat is being pursued by Labour politicians outside a General Election campaign does the Labour Party little credit.Here is a link to the relevant Committee on Standards report:
The full Committee consisted of seven MPs and seven lay members. Two MPs – one Tory and one Labour – voted for a 30 day suspension as punishment for Ms Ferrier along with all lay members. So a majority of MPs supported the more lenient sanction. The Tory MP Alberto Costa – someone I always regarded as a virulent opponent of everything the SNP stood for regarding Scotland’s constitutional position – proposed that the text of the Committee’s judgement be modified to include the following (empathic) statement:
‘Amendment proposed, in line 1, after “mitigating factors:” to insert “a) Ms Ferrier was a woman on her own in London, not her home city. There were no family or close friends to assist her. Her actions were not designed to enrich her or give her any form of benefit in kind. Her behaviour and judgement was directly affected by her distress and panic in her health condition and loneliness;”.— (Alberto Costa.)’This was defeated by seven voters to five.
Amongst MPs, ONLY THE LABOUR MEMBER VOTED AGAINST Costa’s amendment. The senior Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin brought this statement to a vote in the Committee: ‘In arriving at the decision on sanction, the Committee has had to take account of the effect of the Recall of MPs Act 2015.
The recommended sanction, if approved by the House, will trigger the possibility of recall. WE BELIEVE THE OPERATION OF THE ACT REQUIRES REVIEW.’ The Committee members – including ALL MPs – voted eight to four in support of his statement. (my emphasis)I contend – without wishing to understate the seriousness and foolishness of Ms Ferrier’s action – that the FULLER information on the Committee’s deliberations shows matters in a somewhat different light but one that will not be shone by the media and so one that may not be seen by the voters in Rutherglen.
A nine day suspension as punishment was proposed by Alberto Costa, the Tory MP. He was supported by other senior Tories, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Sir Charles Walker. Notably all three were prominent in the Committee of Privileges recent and intensive investigation of Boris Johnson’s alleged misleading of Parliament over parties during lockdown.
Perhaps these senior Tories – putting partisan party politics aside – have shown a better sense of perspective! The SNP MP Allan Dorans also supported a nine day suspension. Twelve committee members voted on this: the split was 4 for and 8 against the nine day suspension.
For more on this: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Margaret+Ferrier
Footnote – A by-election is not certain yet. The folk of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have not yet spoken….or not spoken because they’re unconcerned.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
She also served a Community sentence because of her behaviour broke the Covid regulations but throughout she has continued to serve/represent her constituents. The same cannot be said about the non-attendance of other MPs most notably Nadine Dorries.
Comments from various quarters today seem to be that a by-election is a done deal but as far as I am aware the result of the recall petition has not been announced. Has someone seen the ‘votes’ before they have been counted a bit like the postal votes during Indyref 1 perhaps.
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Official result due on Monday, i Think.
Turns out jenkins was at an illegal birthday party with the deputy speaker, no recalls there.
Yes she was in the wrong but I heard she was told to ‘Go Home’ from westminster, she was ill with covid.
The jenrick delivered shopping to his parents, something like 100 mile journey,
no problem.
The hancock was having a reported affair.
The johnson family were at Chequers living it up, drinking the wine cellar dry.
She has been punished more heavily than required.
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Meanwhile in Britnitland, a Tory MP arrested for sexual offences and indecent assault, has been absent from parliament for more than a year.
He has not been named; his constituents do not know about this and he has been reselected as candidate for the next election.
Imagine if he was an SNP MP?
“Blue tents” would be the least of the frothing lynch-mob “journalism” we could expect.
Glenn/Juan et al, dribbling saliva and hatred as they spout their Holy Wullie cant.
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This is older news, He has been named BUTT nothing has changed, he will stand as the tory candidate in the next GE.
He’s the mp that wanted the national anthem introduced at school assembly.
Andrew Rosendell is currently on Police Bail.
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