MPs vote to suspend Margaret Ferrier from Commons, paving way for key Labour/SNP byelection battleThe Commons has voted to suspend Margaret Ferrier for 30 days by 185 votes to 40 – a majority of 145.
That means a recall byelection in Rutherglen and Hamilton West can now go ahead, provided 10% of voters sign a petition calling for one. This threshold should be met quite comfortably.
In 2019 Ferrier won the seat for the SNP with a majority over Labour of 5,230. But Labour has already been campaigning hard in the constituency, and with the SNP support falling since Nicola Sturgeon resigned, and the party’s finances being investigated by the police, Labour believes it has a good chance of winning.