MP Fiona Onasanya handed three-month prison sentence for lying to police over speeding offence
2 min read
Fiona Onasanya faces the prospect of being forced out as an MP after she was handed a three-month prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.
The member for Peterborough was booted out of the Labour party earlier this month after she was found to have lied about a speeding charge in order to avoid a police ticket.
The MP and former solicitor was convicted at a retrial of colluding with her brother, Festus, after her Nissan Micra was caught going at 41mph in a 30mph zone near Peterborough in July 2017.
Festus Onasanya was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
Ms Onasanya has avoided being forced to stand down from Parliament because her sentence is less than 12 months.
However, a by-election could still be held if 10% of her constituents sign a petition demanding she be "recalled".
Ms Onasanya won the seat by just 607 votes at the 2017 general election, unseating the incumbent Conservative MP Stewart Jackson.
A Labour spokesperson said the the now independent MP had “let the voters of Peterborough down” and called for her to stand down.
“When she was found guilty she should have immediately done the decent thing and resigned,” they said.
“However today’s sentence gives Fiona one last opportunity to act honourably and resign from parliament.
“She should do this without delay and not take another penny in salary from the public purse.”
The party said they would back local residents in triggering a by-election and would begin the process of selecting their candidate.
“Labour will fight any by-election vigorously. The people of Peterborough voted for a Labour MP, and that is what they deserve,” they added.
“That’s why Labour will now begin the process of selecting a candidate for the inevitable by-election – someone who will serve in the interests of the people of Peterborough."
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