Fiona Onasanya: Peterborough MP jailed in speeding case Published duration 29 January 2019

image copyright PA image caption The Old Bailey was told Fiona Onasanya had been texting on her phone when she was spotted speeding, in July 2017

An MP has become the first sitting member of parliament in nearly three decades to be jailed after she lied to police over a speeding ticket.

Solicitor Fiona Onasanya had denied being behind the wheel when her car was spotted being driven at 41mph in a 30mph zone, in July 2017.

The Peterborough MP was thrown out of the Labour Party after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

She has been jailed for three months after a re-trial at the Old Bailey.

The court heard evidence Onasanya was texting as well as speeding, during the summer recess.

Onasanya is the first sitting MP to be jailed since Terry Fields was sentenced to 60 days for refusing to pay his £373 poll tax bill in 1991.

image copyright PA image caption Festus Onasanya was jailed for 10 months after admitting perverting the course of justice

She has stated she intends to appeal against her conviction.

Her brother Festus was jailed for 10 months for his involvement, after pleading guilty to the same charge.

Onasanya was elected as Labour MP for Peterborough in June 2017, six weeks before committing the offence, in Thorney, Cambridgeshire.

She had ousted Conservative Stewart Jackson, who had held the seat for 12 years.

image copyright PA image caption The MP's Nissan Micra was caught by a speed camera in Thorney

As he sentenced her, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith told Onasanya: "You have not simply let yourself down, you have let down those who look to you for inspiration, your party, your profession and Parliament."

Her life as a new MP in 2017 was "extremely hectic and chaotic" and she had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when police began to pursue her, he noted.

After Festus falsely filled out her Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), she made the "disastrous decision" to keep up the lie from November 2017, he said.

The prosecution told the court she went on to collude with her brother to avoid being subject to the speeding ticket.

image copyright PA image caption Fiona Onasanya now faces calls to resign by both the Labour and Conservative parties

What happens next?

Tom Barton, BBC political reporter

If Onasanya had been jailed for 12 months or more, parliamentary rules state she would have automatically lost her seat.

With a three month jail term however, she will instead face what's known as a Recall Petition.

Under new rules introduced in 2015, it means residents can force a by-election if the petition is signed by more than 10 per cent of the Peterborough electorate - around 7,000 people.

However, because Onasanya has lodged an application to appeal against her conviction, the petition can't be opened until that process is complete.

Once it is open, voters will have six weeks to sign it before a result is declared.

Of course, she could choose to resign her seat before that point - if she did a by-election would follow a few weeks later.

Mitigating, Christine Agnew QC said: "Regardless of the sentence it will have a disastrous effect on every aspect of her life and career, a career she has worked very hard for.

"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.

"It is highly likely as a result of today's sentencing hearing that she will lose her seat as an MP.

"It's a very public fall from grace. She will inevitably be struck off as a solicitor."

A spokesman for the Labour Party said Onasanya had "let the voters of Peterborough down".

"When she was found guilty she should have immediately done the decent thing and resigned," he said.

"Today's sentence gives Fiona one last opportunity to act honourably and resign from parliament.

"If Fiona does not resign, Labour will support local residents in their efforts to trigger a by-election through a recall petition."

The Conservatives also called for Onasanya to resign as an MP.

"She cannot possibly represent her constituents from prison and should do the decent thing and immediately step down," a spokesman said.