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.

@ssd

Mps can't follow the rules because they don't know rhem

Johnson had to apologise for mistakenly quoting the rules incorrectly the other day

If he doesn't know them, who does?!?!

Are you really trying to suggest that she wasn’t aware that she shouldn’t go in public transport after first having symptoms and then returning the day after having a positive test? Really?

@notevenat20

It might be worth mentioning that she didn’t actually break the law.

Did she not? I thought the rule in Scotland for not isolating with covid symptoms was a fine of up to £480. So on Saturday after her test she should not have left home?

Also whilst travelling in England I thought it was against the law to continue on public transport knowing you had tested positive. Should she not have returned straight back to the place (wherever that was) that she was staying in London?

Just goes to show how much of a joke this all is.

She should get publicly get 3 fines, with any doubling that may apply:

1. breaking isolation on Monday to get a train to London
2. breaking isolation on Monday to speak in the HoC
3. breaking isolation on Tuesday to get a train to Glasgow.

The SNP has removed her from their party and asked her to resign. If she doesn't resign then the Speaker can suspend her or ask the HoC to discipline her, which may include dismissing her causing a by-election. It would be a certainty, no political party will want to be seen to support her actions. She would be allowed to stand again (not for the SNP), but that would just invite even more bad press. I can't see why she wouldn't resign today to be honest, there's nothing for her to gain by remaining.

@mrshoho

If the test was taken on Saturday and results on Monday 28th. The self-isolation regulations only apply to tests after Monday 28th.

@mrshoho

See the attached.

Notevenat20 She broke the new law that came in on Monday I think?

@MRex I don't think she broke the law at all.

@Tootletum

Just goes to show how much of a joke this all is.

Yep.

Our fearless leaders are showing us what little risk they think C19 poses to the public. Maybe we should listen to them.

She broke the new law that came in on Monday I think?

No her test was before the cut off date.

I wonder if she actually had proper symptoms or not. This doesn't strike me as arrogance. Panic maybe, esp. In returning.

But the fact remains that she could have easily not bothered or not been able to get a test. Or didn't even have official symptoms and tested to be careful. End result is the same, in terms of whoever else she may have infected. And I suspect there are many many people who have not been able to test or not thought it necessary, or actually been completely fine and continue to go about their business.

Luckily people who are asymptomatic only rarely are actually infectious.

Notevenat20 is it the doing of the test or the receiving of results that count?

@notevenat20 - you can think what you like, but you would be wrong. There may be a fine in Scotland dependent on their laws, dependent on timings a fine might apply for Monday's HoC visit (and the Speaker has certain disciplinary powers above that) and regardless there is certainly a minimum £1000 fine to be applied on Tuesday for not isolating. I don't think they can single the fines if they hadn't already been issued, but am quite sure somebody will work it out.

[quote notevenat20]@mrshoho

See the attached.[/quote]
Yes I understand that but were there not laws already in Scotland giving police the powers to fine people for doing exactly what she did?

*double not single, weird auto-incorrect

@Treesofwood

I wonder if she actually had proper symptoms or not. This doesn't strike me as arrogance. Panic maybe, esp. In returning.

But the fact remains that she could have easily not bothered or not been able to get a test. Or didn't even have official symptoms and tested to be careful. End result is the same, in terms of whoever else she may have infected. And I suspect there are many many people who have not been able to test or not thought it necessary, or actually been completely fine and continue to go about their business.

Luckily people who are asymptomatic only rarely are actually infectious.

Good points. I think though because of her position and the fact that she has been banging on about how clear the rules are and how important they are for public safety it doesn't really help her.

Staggering. And so, so incredibly embarrassing.

Yes I understand that but were there not laws already in Scotland giving police the powers to fine people for doing exactly what she did?

I am not aware that the law was actually different in Scotland. Can you quote the law that are referring to? It's quite possible the guidance was different but that's another matter.

Notevenat20 is it the doing of the test or the receiving of results that count?

The wording of the law I pasted above says that test has to be after 28 Sept.

I can sort of understand her getting the train to London if she felt a lot better (although it’s still wrong) but absolutely indefensible to get back on the train once positive. She must have a London flat to isolate or could have arranged to drive herself.

However any mp that is happy to criticise her but defends Cummings is hypocritical. In terms of the actual actions though, hers are worse than cummings’ IMO

Mrshoho Exactly, she doesn't strike me as a risk taker. She appears to care about her constituents. If she took the test just incase, and just had a sore throat or earache then she would have felt it was fine to travel.. (she shouldn't have had a test according to current spoutings from MH, but that's less relevant as not the law)

Frazzled2207 The train home thing is bizarre. Almost like a decision made in panic. I agree there were numerous other options that would have been better than getting the train.
Wonder if Boris will feed her to the wolves in his back garden like he did Cummings.

In theory at least she could be charged under the Offences Against the Person Act

I think Cummings should have been fired for what he did as it completely undermined the 'all in this together' we had during lockdown and was a gateway to so many deciding to break the rules.

What she has done is far worse, she could contribute to hundreds of people catching covid. Her actions were deliberate and she needs to be made an example of.

@notevenat20

Yes I understand that but were there not laws already in Scotland giving police the powers to fine people for doing exactly what she did?

I am not aware that the law was actually different in Scotland. Can you quote the law that are referring to? It's quite possible the guidance was different but that's another matter.

Yes this is the trouble with the separate legislation in each of our countries. It's confusing and I think the new laws from 28th only apply to England. I'm not in Scotland but I'm sure they had stricter laws in place already with fines of £480 for not following isolation rules.