Margaret Ferrier is no longer an MP after voters in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency ousted her from Parliament.

Scotland's first recall petition was signed by 11,896 constituents, well above the 8,113 needed to reach the threshold of 10%.

The decision to sack the MP will now trigger a crucial by-election in early October that looks set to be tricky if not disastrous for Humza Yousaf.

While Ms Ferrier won the seat for the SNP with a majority of more than 5,000, most pollsters — and some SNP MSPs and activists — expect a sizeable Labour victory.

Anas Sarwar's party have been campaigning here for months, with Sir Keir Starmer and senior cabinet figures making a number of high-profile appearances. 

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf faces byelection 'thumping' as SNP support evaporates

The recall petition was opened after Ms Ferrier was suspended from the Commons for 30 days over her multiple pandemic rule breaches and subsequent criminal conviction.

She was ordered to carry out 270 hours of community service after pleading guilty to wilfully exposing people “to the risk of infection, illness and death”.

The convention is that when the MP who is leaving the House is an independent — as Ms Ferrier is — then it is up to the Government to move the writ, the motion calling for a by-election.

However, it’s understood the Tories will leave this to the SNP who have made clear that their chief whip, Brendan O’Hara, will move the writ when Parliament returns from recess at the start of September. 

Under parliamentary rules, a by-election must happen between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ, which means the vote will likely happen on either Thursday 5 October or Thursday 12 October.

Both Labour and the SNP have already selected candidates.

Local teacher Michael Shanks is hoping to take the seat for Keir Starmer’s party, while the SNP is hoping local councillor, Katy Loudon, will save Mr Yousaf’s blushes.

The Tories have selected Thomas Kerr, their group leader on Glasgow City Council. 

The Lib Dems have yet to name a candidate, though will contest the seat.

The local Greens are still mulling the decision.

Alex Salmond’s Alba has called for a “single nationalist candidate standing on a Scotland United platform for independence.”

READ MORE: OPINION: Ferrier by-election will expose every fetid fault line in our politics

Despite being ousted by her constituents Ms Ferrier could also stand.

The former SNP politician had a majority of 5,230 at the last general election when she took the seat back from Labour who had taken it off her in 2017.

However, the polling expert Mark McGeoghegan said this should be a sizeable victory for Labour.

The Glasgow University researcher said: “If you're going by modelling based on national polls, Labour should win this by around 10 points, with an SNP to Labour swing of around 10 points.

“Account for tactical voting, protest voting, differential turnout, etc and this should be a big, big Labour win.”

Both Labour and the SNP are due to hold campaign launches in the constituency on Wednesday.

In a statement released after the result was announced, the First Minister went on the attack: “Every Labour candidate standing in Scotland - including here in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - does so on a regressive platform of maintaining among the very worst of Tory policies.

“Keir Starmer has made a political choice to keep children and working families in poverty. 

“At every stage of this campaign, the SNP will promote the interests and needs of all the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West. By contrast, Labour in Scotland is a mere branch office, doing the bidding of their bosses at Westminster."

Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West had "made their voices heard and demanded change."

She added: “For far too long the area has been failed – let down by two incompetent governments and left voiceless in Parliament by their rule-breaking MP.

“This cannot go on a day longer than it needs to – the SNP must call a by-election at the very first opportunity so Rutherglen and Hamilton West can get the representation it deserves as soon as possible."

The Scottish Tory Deputy Leader, Meghan Gallacher said Ms Ferrier’s constituents had "delivered a very clear verdict on her reckless and selfish actions at the height of the pandemic."

She added: “Of course, this by-election would have happened a lot sooner if she had done the right thing and resigned as an MP straight away.

"Instead, she brazenly stuck it out to the bitter end, which was a total insult to her constituents who made huge sacrifices during Covid.

“I am looking forward to campaigning with our superb candidate, Thomas Kerr, and speaking to voters in this constituency about their real priorities."

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said Ms Ferrier's constituents deserved "fresh representation."

"People are fed up of being neglected by the nationalists," he added.

“This by-election is a chance to send a message to Humza Yousaf that it’s time his out of touch government ended the distractions and focused on bringing down NHS waiting times and helping households through the cost-of-living crisis.”