MP Fiona Onasanya accused of lying about speeding Published duration 25 July 2018

image copyright UK Parliament image caption Fiona Onasanya was elected as the MP for Peterborough in 2017

A Labour MP has been charged with perverting the course of justice over allegedly lying about who was behind the wheel of a speeding vehicle.

Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 12 July charged with the offence.

The 34-year-old faces two counts of perverting the course of justice. Her brother Festus Onasanya, 33, faces three counts of the same offence.

They are both due to appear at the Old Bailey on 13 August.

Mr Onasanya, of Cambridge, is jointly charged with his sister on the two counts she faces relating to incidents on 24 July 2017 and 23 August 2017.

The charges allege they intended to pervert the course of justice by driving a vehicle in excess of the speed limit, falsely informing the investigating authorities that a third party had been the driver and enabling them, as a consequence, to avoid such prosecution and punishment.

'Not appropriate'

During the July incident, Ms Onasanya is alleged to have been driving - and during the August incident, her brother is alleged to have been driving.

The single count that Mr Onasanya faces relates to an incident on 17 June 2017.

The BBC has contacted the office of Ms Onasanya, who won her seat in 2017.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing case."

Ms Onasanya, who was a solicitor before being elected to Parliament, is a Labour whip, meaning she is responsible for party discipline.

She won the Peterborough seat with a majority of just 607 votes, ousting Tory Stewart Jackson.

Mr Jackson then took up a role as David Davis's chief of staff until the then Brexit secretary quit earlier this month.