Saturday, 4 May 2024

A jailed MP is expected to make history for the wrong reason

Jailed MP Fiona Onasanya is expected to become the first politician to vote in the Commons while wearing an electronic tag.

The disgraced 35-year-old was locked up for three months this week after being convicted of lying to police over a speeding offence.

She is refusing to quit as an MP and has vowed to carry on representing her Peterborough constituents.

A legal expert told the Mirror Onasanya is likely to serve just four weeks behind bars and another two under “home detention curfew” – the scheme where low-risk offenders are tagged and must stay in their house between certain hours.

It paves the way for the trained solicitor to return to Parliament and take part in crunch Brexit votes with the bracelet around her ankle.


A Labour MP said: “She’s highly likely to be out within four weeks and put on a tag, so there’s nothing stopping her voting.

“She’s said she’s going to stay on as an MP so we’ll be walking through the division lobbies with someone wearing an electronic tag.

“It’s a joke.”

Onasanya used a local newspaper column following her conviction to make clear her plan to cling on as an MP – despite being booted out of the Labour Party when she was convinced in December.

She told readers: “There is still much more to be done, and you can rest assured that I will continue to do so as your representative in the corridors of power.”

Despite being jailed, she is resisting calls to quit and continuing to be paid her £77,379 salary while sitting in her cell.

Her barrister Christine Agnew QC told the Old Bailey: “She has already been expelled from the Labour Party.

“At the moment she continues as an Independent MP and the reason for that is it is her only income.”

Parliamentary rules require the removal of an MP who is jailed for 12 months or more.


A recall petition – which could see Onasanya ousted if more than 10% of the electorate sign and trigger a by-election – cannot be launched until an appeal against her conviction is heard, which could take months.

However, the MP could also see her prison sentence increased after complaints it was too soft.

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: “We have received a request for the case of Fiona Onasanya to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

“The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case.”

Onasanya’s fall from grace began when she colluded with her brother Festus after her Nissan Micra was clocked doing 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017.

The court was told she was sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution to complete, 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.

Her brother received 10 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including over the July 24 incident.

Onasanya would join a list of high-profile figures who returned to work while wearing a tag.

In January 2005, Gary Croft became the first professional footballer to wear a device while playing for Ipswich against Swindon Town.

He previously spent a month in prison for driving while disqualified and perverting the course of justice.

Footballer Jermaine Pennant wore an ankle tag on the pitch for Birmingham City after he was given a three-month sentence for motoring offences, including drink-driving.

Onasanya’s office did not respond to requests to comment.

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