Blantyre MSP Clare Haughey this week spoke of her anger at Margaret Ferrier’s disregard of the Covid rules.
Ms Haughey, a friend of the shamed Hamilton West MP, issued a statement in response to a recent newspaper interview with The Scottish Sun in which Ferrier admitted that she will not be standing down.
In the interview 60-year-old Ferrier blamed her actions – which included travelling to and from London, going to church and a trip to Prestwick – on the illness making her behave out of character.
She also accused her colleagues in the SNP of hanging her out to dry after the scandal broke.
Her comments and refusal to stand down were blasted as a “kick in the teeth” by a furious Ms Haughey, whose mother-in=law passed away due to coronavirus.
The MSP for Rutherglen, whose constituency also covers Blantyre,.said: “To say that I am completely disappointed by Margaret Ferrier’s refusal to resign is an understatement – I am angry and I know I’m not alone feeling that.
“I have worked alongside her for many years, campaigning for and with her in elections, and counted on her as a friend. In that spirit, I ask her again to do the right thing, listen to the anger of her constituents, and resign as our MP.”
She continued: “I lost my mother-in-law to this cruel disease. Under these tough but necessary rules, my family were denied an opportunity to get together, to mourn and share memories. There was no wake – only a funeral socially distant with no one but immediate family there.
“This experience is by no means unique, and the sacrifices many, many people have made for the sake of others is incalculable.
“Margaret’s actions are a kick in the teeth for all those following the rules and those working to keep us safe.
“I’m not willing to sit idly by and I feel I must speak up again – Margaret must do the right thing and resign.”
