The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
DISGRACED MP DODGES QUESTIONS
MP kicked out by Labour fails to take part in important Brexit amendment
Expelled by her party, condemned by her former colleagues and missing for an important Brexit vote – yet Fiona Onasanya has continued to dodge questions as she awaits sentencing for perverting the course of justice.
Another difficult week for the Peterborough MP began last Thursday when Labour Party chair Ian Lavery revealed to the Peterborough Telegraph that the party had expelled Ms Onasanya the day after her conviction for lying to police over speeding points.
Mr Lavery, who was visiting party members in Peterborough, called on Ms Onasanya to quit so residents could elect a new MP.
He said the people of Peterborough had been “failed” by Ms Onasanya and that he was “absolutely confident” Labour would win a by-election should one be held here.
Further condemnation came the following day from leader of the Labour group on Peterborough City Council Cllr Shaz Nawaz, who said Ms Onasanya had “let the voters of Peterborough down”.
He added: “I am proud of the Labour Party’s decisive action in this sad affair. But more than that, I am excited at the beginning of a new chapter in Peterborough, and the chance to elect the new Labour MP Peterborough deserves.”
Both men said Labour would campaign to remove the MP if a recall petition opened up following her sentencing. No date for the sentencing has been set, the Old Bailey confirmed yesterday.
Ms Onasanya, who is now sitting as an independent MP, was expected to continue her duties on her return to the Commons on Monday, but the following day she failed to vote on a crucial amendment to the Finance Bill which limits ministers’ ability to make tax changes connected to a no deal Brexit without Parliament’s “explicit consent”.
North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara sided with the Government which narrowly lost the vote.
Stamford MP Nick Boles and Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly were among the rebel Conservatives to vote for the amendment. Mr Boles revealed he received a death threat following the vote.
Three weeks after her conviction Ms Onasanya has still not spoken publicly about the trial, although she was spotted outside her home in Peterborough last Thursday. She refers to herself as an “independent MP” in her column for the PT this week, but does not explain the circumstances around her expulsion from Labour.