Fiona Onasanya: Disgraced former Labour MP posts bizarre video proclaiming innocence in front of New York skyline
‘If you wish for me to continue as your independent MP, I am willing and able to do so, but the choice is now in your hands’
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Your support makes all the difference.Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya has vowed to fight on as an independent politician in her first public appeal to constituents since her release from prison.
The Peterborough MP, who was imprisoned for a month for lying over a speeding offence, insisted she was innocent and would “continue to pursue avenues to clear my name” ahead of a recall petition which would allow her constituents to oust her.
Ms Onasanya was expelled from Labour following her conviction for perverting the course of justice but she has refused to stand down.
In a Facebook video, apparently set against a New York skyline, Ms Onasanya said: ”I am telling you I am innocent, and will continue to pursue avenues to clear my name.
“If you wish for me to continue as your independent MP, I am willing and able to do so, but the choice is now in your hands.
“I would like to say I have a deep gratitude to all who have offered prayers, support and love during this difficult period of time over the past few months and also say to you all, thank you.
“I will continue to be your voice of change in parliament for as long as you wish me to do so and if you do wish me to do so I can tell you I will continue to lobby government, I will continue to fight for social justice with all of the veracity and power that I have been so far, and continue to be your voice, because you deserve nothing less.”
Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that she colluded with her brother Festus Onasanya 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.
Mr Onasanya, 34, from Cambridge, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including the 24 July incident.
Ms Onasanya claims in the video, posted on Monday, that her defence “was never put across in the media”.
The 35-year-old solicitor won the Cambridgeshire seat from Brexiteer Tory Stewart Jackson in 2017 with a majority of 607 votes.
She is now facing a rare recall petition after being convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey and having the Court of Appeal reject a challenge against her conviction.
Under parliamentary rules, Ms Onasanya was not subject to automatic removal as an MP as her prison sentence was less than 12 months long.
Her constituents will now have the chance to decide whether to oust her by supporting the recall petition, which was due to begin at 7am, Tuesday 19 March.
If it is signed by 10 per cent of constituents in six weeks then a by-election will be triggered.
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