Margaret Ferrier 'missing in action' as MP, says Keir Starmer as he campaigns for her seat

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has branded MP Margaret Ferrier 'missing in sight' as he prepares to campaign for her seat.

Ms Ferrier was found guilty of culpably and recklessly exposing the public 'to the risk of infection, illness and death' by breaching Covid restrictions, and the House of Commons Standards Committee subsequently recommended a 30-day suspension from the House.

A vote to approve the suspension was due to take place on Thursday, but a motion to put it to MPs has not been moved by the government and it is understood that 'there were concerns that there were not the required number of MPs in the House of Commons for the vote to take place.

With Westminster on recess next week, the earliest the vote can return to the soap opera is June 5.

A Labor source said the government had 'bottled it up' and withdrawn the vote amid fears it could have been thrown out .

If the suspension is approved, it would trigger the first recall petition in Scotland, with voters having the option of triggering a by-election if 10% sign the document.

The party Labor – who held the seat before it was taken by the SNP in 2019 – has been active in the constituency of now independent MP Rutherglen and Hamilton West, selecting teacher Michael Shanks to stand in any potential contest and deploying Scottish leader Anas Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie there to campaign for the past few weeks.

Sir Keir is expected to campaign and speak to members of the public in the South Lanarkshire seat on Friday.

Speak before the visit, he said: "For too long the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have been abandoned by two bad governments and have not been represented by a missing MP.

"The people of this region are calling for change and a new policy that offers hope, partners with their ambition for their region and focuses on their priorities. and only Labor will focus on tackling the cost of living crisis and building a better future for all of Scotland. »