Byelection triggered after constituents vote to remove Margaret Ferrier | Scottish politics

A byelection will be held in Rutherglen and Hamilton West after constituents voted for the Covid rule-breaking MP Margaret Ferrier to be removed from her seat.

Voters in the constituency had six weeks to sign a recall petition, which was automatically triggered after Ferrier, the former Scottish National party member who now sits as an independent, was suspended from the Commons for 30 days after being convicted of breaking travel rules during lockdown.

More than 10% of eligible voters did so, triggering a byelection contest that both Scottish Labour and the SNP consider a crucial test in advance of the next general election. In total, 11,896 of 81,124 (14%) eligible constituents signed the petition.

Once the Commons resumes in early September after the summer recess, it is for the SNP to move the writ to set a byelection date.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader and Rutherglen campaign coordinator, said the party believed the byelection should be held as soon as possible.

She said the SNP should set the date for 5 October, the earliest possible date after the Commons returns from its summer recess.

“The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have waited long enough. Give them a say and name the day,” she said.

The SNP has been approached for comment.

Ferrier faced national opprobrium after she visited local businesses and travelled to and from the Commons despite knowing she was Covid positive in September 2020 – a criminal offence. Repeated visits to the area by the Guardian have found that anger at her behaviour has not abated.