City MPs reject Brexit deal

Fiona Onasanya votes for the first time since being jailed

Fiona Onasanya voted for the first time since being jailed in Tuesday’s historic Brexit vote which saw the Government defeated for a second time.

The MP for Peterborough, who could be removed from her role in seven weeks, was joined by Shailesh Vara, the Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire, in siding against Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement which was defeated by 391 votes to 242 votes.

It is believed she became the first MP to vote while wearing an electronic tag.

Ms Onasanya was convicted in December at the Old Bailey for perverting the course of justice and sentenced in February to three months in prison, of which she served four weeks. Her vote as an inde- pendent - she was expelled by Labour the day after her conviction - could be one of her final acts in the Commons as a Recall Petition to remove her as MP opens on Tuesday.

The petition was automatically launched after Ms Onasanya failed to overturn her conviction for lying about who was driving her car when it was caught speeding in Thorney in July 2017. If 10 per cent of her constituents (6,967 people) sign the petition within a six week period then she will lose her seat and a by-election will be triggered.

The main Brexit issue again for many MPs was the backstop, which would bring new regulatory barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Under the negotiated agreement the UK would have no way of leaving the backstop unilaterally.

Mr Vara said: “I voted against the Government with much regret, but sadly the deal before us had very little difference to the one that we had when the Government suffered its last defeat.

“I fully understand the general public wants Parliament to get on with it. However, I also know the public does not want Parliament to accept any deal. I’m sorry to say this is a really bad deal.”