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Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya has lost a challenge against her conviction for perverting the course of justice.

The 35-year-old solicitor was expelled from the Labour Party after being found guilty in December last year.

She was jailed for three months at the Old Bailey in January and was released from prison after serving one month behind bars.

Onasanya, who was representing herself, told the court: "The charge against me was perverting the course of justice.

"I said from the outset, and I still maintain my innocence, that I did not do that."

(Image: PA)

But she was refused permission for a full appeal by three leading judges.

The process of opening a recall petition will begin, to see if voters in Peterborough want to kick her out.

Onasanya would have automatically been kicked out of her seat if she had been sentenced to more than a year.

But if she had won her case today, the conviction would be overturned and there could have been a re-trial.

Labour sacked the MP after she was found guilty but she stayed on as an Independent.

Today the House of Commons speaker John Bercow confirmed he had set the petition process in motion.

Speaking outside court after her appeal was dismissed, Ms Onasanya said: "I'm

not going to comment at the moment."

Rejecting Onasanya's appeal bid, Sir Brian Leveson said: "In conclusion, this applicant was tried fairly by a jury, who rejected her evidence on oath.

"There was no error of law in the approach of the judge, whose directions... were clear and accurate, nor was there any other irregularity with the trial.

"It is a tragedy that she has damaged, probably irreparably, a promising political career, but there is absolutely no basis for challenging her conviction."

Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that she colluded with her brother Festus after her car was clocked speeding at 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017.

She was sent a notice of intended prosecution to fill out, 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.

Festus Onasanya, 34, from Cambridge, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including the July 24 incident.

Responding to the judgement, a Labour Party spokesperson said Onasanya must "now do the decent thing and go", adding: "If she refuses to stand down, Labour will actively support local residents in their efforts to trigger a by-election through a recall petition."

"Labour has consistently called on Fiona Onasanya to stand down as an MP ever since she was found guilty last December," they said.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Labour’s Fiona Onasanya has let Peterborough down. She has refused to do the right thing and step down and continued to receive her taxpayer-funded salary while in prison.

“Now a recall petition is being triggered, the people of Peterborough have the opportunity to demand a new MP through a by-election.

“Labour are ignoring the democratic vote of Peterborough and are doing all they can to frustrate Brexit for political purposes. The people of Peterborough deserve a Conservative MP who will respect their views.”