Following a vote from fellow MPs, Margaret Ferrier, once of the Scottish National Party but now independent, has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days after breaking covid rules to attend church and speak in Parliament.

The decision by MPs may see a by-election in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.

The Christian politician was awaiting the results of a covid test when she visited the place of worship.

It’s believed she gave a gospel reading during the Mass at St Mungo’s Church, an enquiry found.

Following the service, she spent two hours in a pub.

The following day, she travelled to London to speak in the House of Commons – despite not receiving the result of a coronavirus test and showing covid symptoms.

After appearing in Parliament, but still in London, Ferrier received the results of her test, which confirmed she was positive for the coronavirus.

The following day, she took a train back to Glasgow, instead of isolating in London.

The MP was already ordered to complete a 270-hour community payback order after admitting culpability.

MPs voted 185 to 40 in favour of suspending Ferrier for a month. The term will begin on Wednesday, 7th of June.

During the Commons vote, she was accompanied by former Conservative minister and Christian Andrew Selous.

A report by the Commons Standards Committee, published in March, recommended the suspension. Ferrier appealed against it but an expert panel upheld the verdict. They said: "This is not one momentary error of judgment. It is a sequence of events amounting to a deliberate course of dishonest behaviour.

"She acted selfishly, putting her own interests above the public interest. There could therefore be no lesser sanction for this conduct."