Fiona Onasanya loses appeal against her conviction for perverting the course of justice
Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya has lost a challenge against her conviction for perverting the course of justice.
The 35-year-old solicitor was expelled from the Labour Party after being found guilty in December last year.
She was jailed for three months at the Old Bailey in January and was released from prison after serving one month behind bars.Representing herself at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Onasanya told thecourt:
She was refused permission for a full appeal by three leading judges.
Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that she colluded with her brother Festusafter her car was clocked speeding at 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017.
She was sent a notice of intended prosecution to fill out, but it was sent back naming the guilty driver as Aleks Antipow, an acquaintance of her brother, who was away visiting his parents in Russia.
Festus Onasanya, 34, from Cambridge, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including the July 24 incident.
How can an MP be recalled? - check out our guide
It means a recall petition can now be triggered. The Labour Party is among those calling for the resignation of the MP with a once-promising political career, but so far she has refused to give up her seat. She will continue to represent Peterborough as an Independent.This is because her jail sentence did not meet the 12-month minimum for an instant dismissal.
A by-election can be triggered if a recall petition is signed by 10% of the electorate in the constituency, this can now begin after her appeal was rejected.
A Labour spokesman said: "Labour has consistently called on Fiona Onasanya to stand down as an MP ever since she was found guilty last December.
"Her refusal to do so continues to let the voters of Peterborough down. Shemust now do the decent thing and go. If she refuses to stand down, Labour will actively support local residents in their efforts to trigger a by-election through a recall petition."
Labour is already campaigning for candidate Lisa Forbes in the seat