HUMZA Yousaf has said he would look forward to fighting a by-election in Margaret Ferrier’s seat after her "reckless action" saw her suspended from the Commons.
The First Minister said he believes the people of her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency should be given the opportunity to replace her after a Commons committee recommended on Thursday that she is suspended from the House for 30 days for her coronavirus rule-breaking.
MP Ferrier travelled by train while knowing she was infected with Covid-19 in 2020.
A by-election could be triggered in her seat if enough constituents vote for one in a recall petition.
Yousaf was asked about her suspension shortly after taking part in his debut First Minister’s Questions session at Holyrood as head of the Scottish Government.
He conceded it would take “hard work” for the SNP to win a by-election in the region but insisted the length of ban for Ferrier is correct as he urged her to step down.
He told journalists: “We’ve said from day one that Margaret Ferrier should have stepped down because of her reckless action.
“I look forward to fighting that by-election on our strong track record.”
Asked how confident of winning he is, Yousaf said: “We’ll take nothing for granted, we won’t be complacent.
“We’ve got strong support in Rutherglen and right across that region.
“But it will take hard work. I think the right thing for Margaret Ferrier to do would be to stand down.”
Yousaf promised to campaign in Rutherglen and Hamilton West if a by-election takes place.
The FM was also asked about the make up of his new Cabinet, which does not include his leadership rivals, Kate Forbes or Ash Regan.
Yousaf noted that Siobhian Brown, a supporter of Forbes, is now a junior minister.
He said: “There is no team Kate, there is no team Ash, there’s no team Humza.
“We’re at our strongest as a party when we unite and that’s the only way we’ll deliver independence.”
