AN MP suffering from coronavirus symptoms appeared to visit a gym, shop and a beauty salon on the same day she started to feel ill and ordered a coronavirus test.
Margaret Ferrier, who has lost the SNP whip for travelling to London before getting her test results, visited several local businesses on the same day she took her test, according to her Twitter feed.
Photographs posted last Saturday show her at several venues in the morning – including a leisure centre in South Lanarkshire, a salon in Rutherglen and a shop in Burnside.
She tweeted: “Lots of new stock in Sweet P gift boutique in #Burnside loving the autumnal colours of the window display #shoplocal@ShopLocal_#lovelocal.”
Another message read: “Popped into Vanilla Salon to wish Kelly, Anna and her team well for the future. I’m loving the decor, bringing some pizzazz to #Rutherglen. They were singing the praises of @CarolNugentSNP for all her help.”
She also revealed on her Twitter feed: “Supporting the Great British Week of Sport with a visit to South Lanarkshire Eastfield Lifestyle.
“It’s good to see customers coming back to use gym & dance classes with safeguards in place. Thanks to Manager Stewart & Valerie for the tour.”
She was pictured at the leisure centre alongside staff – though they appeared to be social distancing.
But Ms Ferrier revealed last night that “on Saturday afternoon, after experiencing mild symptoms, I requested a Covid-19 test which I took that day.”
It’s not clear when she began experiencing symptoms, or the exact time she took the test.
HOAR has been unable to contact Ms Ferrier’s office for comment on the reported trips.
After feeling better she travelled to London on Monday, an attended Parliament, breaking isolation rules to stay put until test results come back.
She got her positive test result on Monday evening, but then chose to travel back home from London to Scotland on Tuesday morning.
It’s not yet known when the SNP knew the full details of her trip.
SNP sources said they were only made aware she tested positive and made a trip to London on Thursday.
But she informed them she tested positive – alerting Parliamentary authorities – on Wednesday.
It was hours before the news was revealed on Thursday evening in a statement to the nation.
Nicola Sturgeon and several of her colleagues in the SNP have called on her to do the right thing and quit as an MP – but she has yet to say whether she will throw in the towel.
And the SNP were accused by the Tories of a cover-up, by holding onto information and possibly putting more people at risk.
But leader of the Scottish Tories, Douglas Ross, said the SNP’s story was “full of holes” and Ms Ferrier must quit now.
He said today: “The SNP’s timeline is full of holes and any reasonable person can see that.
“They are stretching the truth on a daily basis now. If it’s not the First Minister lying to the Scottish Parliament, it’s Ian Blackford treating the public like fools.
“Ian Blackford also must answer why he knew on Thursday morning about a potentially criminal act and let it lie until that night.
“Margaret Ferrier wasn’t even cast adrift until after the public outcry and she still hasn’t been sacked by the SNP, only suspended.
“Actions speak louder than words. The vital public health message we all need to follow cannot be tarnished. Get rid of Margaret Ferrier and tell us the truth.”
