Disgraced Fiona Onasanya faces calls to quit Parliament as she becomes first female MP ever to be sent to JAIL after being locked up for three months for lying to police to avoid speeding fine
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Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya has been jailed for three months for repeatedly lying to police to dodge a speeding ticket.
The
35-year-old, who has been kicked out of the Labour Party, faced fresh
calls to quit today – but unless she agrees to do so will continue to
represent her constituents and draw her £77,000 taxpayer-funded salary
while she sits in prison.
The Peterborough MP became the first sitting female MP to be jailed after lying to investigators when her car was caught doing 41mph in a 30mph zone in July 2017.
The judge told her: ‘It is not one law for those in a position of responsibility and power and another for those that are not.’
Parliamentary rules dictate that only MPs jailed for 12 months or more are automatically forced to step down, meaning Onasanya could technically stay in her job while serving time.
However, a recall petition will now be launched in her constituency, which can force a by-election if signed by 10% of constituents, around 7,000 people in Onasanya’s case.
That process
She has refused to apologise since she was convicted at the Old Bailey last year and – in an extraordinary outburst – likened herself to Jesus and Moses.
Jailing her today, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said he had taken into account that the MP suffers from multiple sclerosis and her career was over.
‘It is a tragedy that you find yourselves and here in this predicament, but it is a tragedy that you have bought upon yourselves,’ he added.
‘You have not simply let yourself down, you have let down those who look to you for inspiration, your party, your profession and Parliament.’
