What hope do we have when MPs can't follow the rules?

[mrshoho]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-54379026

She travelled from London by train from Scotland to London and back knowing she was positive! And visited parliament! no excuse for this.

@notevenat20

I think I am the odd one out but I don't really care. Millions of people are breaking the rules every week and this is what is causing the increase in infections. She is just added to that list.

It's the hypocrisy that makes sticks in my throat though. In her privileged position she's spent the last 6 months telling people the rules are crystal clear.

I feel for the people who had gone in that day to do their everyday jobs at the stations, on the trains, at Parliament, etc, with whom she came into contact.

It's the hypocrisy that makes sticks in my throat though. In her privileged position she's spent the last 6 months telling people the rules are crystal clear

I guess so. I regularly talk to other mothers who rant and rave about other people not following the rules and then at the end explain how they are planning a dinner party for 6 people with their three kids in the house.

Hypocrisy seems to be the norm on this topic.

She must resign or lose her job (can her constituents do something to kick her out?) and I hope the police prosecute to the extent of their powers.

I'd like to know, with her job and income secure, why didn't she just cosy up on the sofa with a cuppa, milk tray and a boxset while she awaited the results? What benefit was there for her to make the trip?

She must resign or lose her job (can her constituents do something to kick her out?) and I hope the police prosecute to the extent of their powers.

Would you also want that for all your friends who break these rules?

Also great post keepdistance agree entirely.

ECV teachers are supposed to sacrifice themselves while MPs do this? Why are the unions not calling for strikes for unsafe working conditions?

If MPs were in the same conditions as in the classroom they'd all be self isolating now.

Would you also want that for all your friends who break these rules?

Yes, because it would save lives. Save a father, a son, a mother, a daughter, a sister or a brother. Save children being bereaved. I think it would be worth it, to be honest.

The only time I wouldn't want people prosecuted is if they're living in abject poverty and can't afford to self isolate. But anyone on the salary of an MP? Yes.

@IloveJKRowling

I admire your passion. I don't think I know anyone who has really followed every single rule all the time.

@Harencha

I'd like to know, with her job and income secure, why didn't she just cosy up on the sofa with a cuppa, milk tray and a boxset while she awaited the results? What benefit was there for her to make the trip?

Yes and I wonder where and who she stayed with in London? She's certainly given track and trace some work to do!

I think it depends if the rule breaking exposes other people to risk. Meeting up with 7 friends all socially distanced in a park outside when you're all well. No, that's not really worth prosecuting as the risks are so low.

Anyone who goes out around other people with covid symptoms, and anyone who travels on public transport or goes out around other people when they've tested positive recently? Yes they should face prosecution / fines.

Sod resigning. She should be sacked tonight publicly by Nicola Sturgeon. How dare governments take away our civil liberties and then refuse to act decisively when a politician breaks them. It's not even a minor infringement, it was a ridiculous act of stupidity- what on earth possessed her I do not know.

Only good thing is may dial down the support for SNP if Ms Sturgeon once again drags her heels about doing the right thing - and yes well aware British government no better .

[quote DonnaDonna01]@tobee no it isn’t in the same league but worrying if the top medical advisor who is helping to create the rules and asking us to follow then can’t say he’s following them to the letter himself; what hope have we.[/quote]
I have no inside knowledge here but I think Chris Whitty comes across as being quite a meticulous person who is just being scrupulously honest. I don't imagine he is doing anything scandalous but he is aware that none of us can claim perfection

@rookiemere

Sod resigning. She should be sacked tonight publicly by Nicola Sturgeon. How dare governments take away our civil liberties and then refuse to act decisively when a politician breaks them. It's not even a minor infringement, it was a ridiculous act of stupidity- what on earth possessed her I do not know.

Only good thing is may dial down the support for SNP if Ms Sturgeon once again drags her heels about doing the right thing - and yes well aware British government no better .

Couldn't agree more! This woman is a disgrace

It's particularly selfish to travel on such a long train journey (8 hours?) while knowing you have the virus. Like others have said, it's not like she would have been at risk of losing her job if she had done the right thing and isolated, but ironically that might be the case now.

Perhaps her symptoms were mild so she really didn't think the test would come back positive, but once the positive result came in she should not have got on the train back to Scotland. That is the bit that is unforgivable, for someone in her position.

I think Chris Whitty meant that he does his best to stick to the rules at all times. It is possible to break them accidentally, like forgetting to put your mask on in a shop, or getting too close to someone. Nobody's perfect.
What this woman did is way beyond being forgetful though. I don't see it as being any different from that guy who went on a pub crawl in Bolton. Let's hope she's not a superspreader.

@Defenbaker people are being told to self isolate for 14 days because they've been in contact with someone with coronavirus and don't even have symptoms themselves resulting in people losing salary, DCs losing yet more education and many more negative outcomes.

She was concerned enough to get a test. Presumably she's an educated woman. She knew she was meant to self isolate.

The SNP MP should resign - especially in light of her comments about cumings!

I use to think Chris Whitty and Valance were the only ones worth listening to when the briefings started but not now. If you are going to stand up there and ask people to follow the rules you need to ensure your following them yourself less how can the rest of us be expected to understand them and follow them. Just the same as Boris the other day getting them wrong when questioned.

I’m not saying this lessen this Scottish MP’s behaviour though she should resign.

Well she shouldn't have really travelled down whilst waiting for the results of the Covid test.
But travelling back home on a train is reprehensible.
I know it's not ideal but surely a government car with the driver screened off could have been arranged to drive her back up to Scotland?

Suspending the whip is the closest a party can come to sacking an MP if they haven't been convicted of something.
So the SNP has done the only thing they have the power to do at the moment.
I imagine that in private the senior folk (eg Sturgeon, Blackford) will be suggesting she resign sooner rather than later.

For people saying she should be "sacked" there isn't an easy way to do this, sturgeon has no authority to sack an MP (she can chuck her out of the party).

An MP would be removed if they had a prison sentence over a year. There is also the the recall act in which a (official) local petition can trigger a by-election.

@mrshoho

I'm loathed to judge the general public who may well have to take decisions and risks to keep a roof and food on the table. This MP would not have these financial worries and had no excuse for her actions.

... Other than that the "guidelines" are complete bollocks, and those elected to represent the population know this, and are acting accordingly. If that's what they are doing, I'm happy to follow their example rather than their weaselly words.

@notevenat20

She must resign or lose her job (can her constituents do something to kick her out?) and I hope the police prosecute to the extent of their powers.

Would you also want that for all your friends who break these rules?

I wouldn't. I think she's my new heroine because she shows what a crock of shit the guidelines actually are.