First Minister to campaign in possible by-election constituency
Humza Yousaf will visit Margaret Ferrier's Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat today
Last updated 15th Apr 2023
First Minister Humza Yousaf will be campaigning in Rutherglen and Hamilton West this morning as the SNP face a potential by-election.
The SNP leader is set to lay out his “positive, ambitious and radical vision” in the constituency where there is the potential for a recall petition to be used against sitting MP Margaret Ferrier.
Ms Ferrier won the seat for the SNP in 2019 - but was later found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and placed people at risk by taking part in a debate and travelling by train while suffering from Covid-19.
If she is barred from the Commons for 10 days or more, that could trigger a recall petition, which would result in a by-election in the constituency - although 10% of voters there would need to support this for it to go ahead.
Mr Yousaf said: “Only the SNP will ensure Scotland's priorities are put first and offer a positive, ambitious and radical vision for their future as an independent country.
"That's the message I'll be sharing with voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West today.”
Parliament is still to determine her punishment, but the Commons Standards Committee has already recommended the MP - who now sits as an independent - should be suspended for 30 days.
A by-election would come at a difficult time for the SNP, which has just gone through a divisive leadership contest, and is in the midst of a Police Scotland investigation into party finances.
Scottish Labour deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, described the SNP as “chaotic and divided”.
She added: “voters won't forget Margaret Ferrier’s reckless rule-breaking, no matter how many SNP campervans are dispatched to Rutherglen.”