Independent MP Fiona Onasanya has lost her seat in the House of Commons after more than 27% of registered voters in her Peterborough constituency signed a recall petition demanding her removal.

The 35-year-old lawyer, who was jailed for perverting the course of justice, becomes the first MP ever to be removed by the recall process, introduced by David Cameron in 2015.

Some 19,261 people signed the petition - 27.64% of those eligible to take part and well above the 10% threshold for a recall.

READ MORE: Former Labour MP jailed for perverting course of justice

The successful petition now triggers a by-election in the Peterborough constituency, in which Ms Onasanya is permitted to stand.

Ms Onasanya was first elected to Parliament as a Labour MP by a wafer-thin majority of 607 in 2017.

A year later, she was charged with perverting the course of justice after lying about a speeding offence. She was expelled by Labour after her conviction and served less than four weeks of a three-month prison sentence earlier this year.

Labour said it will move a writ for the by-election on Thursday, paving the way for Peterborough’s voters to select a new MP within weeks.

Nigel Farage said his new Brexit Party will contest the by-election, but a spokesman said no decision had yet been taken on whether he will be the candidate.

The by-election in a city which voted 61% Leave in the 2016 EU referendum potentially offers the former Ukip leader a route to a seat in Parliament after seven unsuccessful attempts.

Mr Farage tweeted: “I can confirm that @brexitparty_uk will fight the Peterborough by-election. We will give it our best shot.”

Labour chairman Ian Lavery said: “Labour campaigned hard for a victory in this recall petition.

“The people of Peterborough clearly agree that Fiona Onasanya is not fit to be their MP and we’re delighted they will now have the chance to vote for a Labour MP in our excellent candidate, Lisa Forbes.”

Conservative parliamentary candidate for Peterborough Paul Bristow said: “The people of Peterborough deserve a better MP who will vote in Parliament to deliver Brexit.”

For all the latest Scottish news, sport and features click here, or head to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. </s> Fiona Onasanya has been kicked out of Parliament by her angry constituents in Peterborough.

A Recall Petition which closed today (Wednesday) was signed by 19,261 of her constituents, passing the 10 per cent threshold needed to trigger a by-election.

This is the first time in British politics a sitting MP has been removed by their constituents in this way, with 27.64 per cent of eligible voters signing the petition. Sixty two signatures were rejected.

The result was announced by Peterborough’s returning officer Gillian Beasley at around 6.30pm once the final signatures had been counted.

A by-election has now been called for June 6.

Ms Onasanya sparked outrage after she refused to step down following her conviction in December for perverting the course of justice.

A jury unanimously convicted the MP of lying about who was driving her car when it was caught speeding in Thorney in July 2017.

She was sentenced to three months in prison for the crime but only served four weeks before being released on licence.

The prison sentence automatically triggered the Recall Petition which her constituents had six weeks to sign.

Seven candidates have already been chosen by their parties to contest the upcoming by-election which will gain huge national attention due to the ongoing Brexit impasse and Peterborough’s support for Leave at the 2016 referendum, as well as the city’s history as a swing seat.

Nigel Farage has tonight confirmed that the Brexit Party will field a candidate in the by-election, while the anti-Brexit Renew Party has also indicated it will contest the seat.

Ms Onasanya, who unsuccessfully appealed her conviction and continues to maintain her innocence, was elected as a Labour MP but was expelled by the party the day after her conviction.

She has not indicated whether she will stand in the by-election and has never directly commented on the Recall Petition.

SDP candidate for Peterborough Patrick O’Flynn said: “This whole process has taken far too long and left the people of Peterborough without proper parliamentary representation for months, but finally we can now look forward to a new MP being elected in a by-election.

“As SDP candidate in that contest I will be endeavouring to make sure that the betrayal of Brexit by the establishment parties is a big issue, along with the need to invest in our local NHS, police and other key public services.”

UKIP candidate John Whitby said: “It’s no great surprise that the people of Peterborough have reacted so strongly to the opportunity to recall our disgraced MP and have made history as a result.

“If you vote UKIP, suddenly the Westminster politicians will listen to Peterborough and the unheard voters in the UK and start to do what we instruct them.”

Labour candidate Lisa Forbes said: “It is great news for our city that the petition to recall Fiona Onasanya has passed. We in the Labour Party campaigned hard to pass this petition, and the people of Peterborough have clearly said that they want a fresh start and an MP who will bring honesty and integrity to the role.

“We face a lot of challenges in our city, from the rising crime to the falling school standards. We now have the chance to change this, with a by-election to be announced soon we can offer the people of Peterborough the fresh start and better deal they deserve.!

Conservative candidate Paul Bristow said: “The people of Peterborough deserve a better MP who will vote in Parliament to deliver Brexit. I’m delighted this result gives local people the chance to make their voices heard and vote for a better MP – and it will be a choice between Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour candidate and me.

“I’ll be fighting hard throughout this campaign to show why it is only a Conservative MP who can truly tackle crime and deliver the jobs and investment Peterborough needs, as well as to ensure Brexit is a success for the local community.”

Lib Dem candidate Beki Sellick said: “Brexit is the issue on Peterborough doorsteps, even when we’re out campaigning for tomorrow’s local elections.

“People tell me ‘the Tories aren’t delivering the Brexit I wanted’ and ‘we’re Labour, but we can’t vote for Corbyn’.

“When people hear what we stand for, they like it; when they meet me, they can believe in me. Peterborough wants an honest and straightforward local MP to work for the good of everyone here.”

The Recall Petition, which cost the Government approximately £500,000 to run, opened on March 19 and lasted for six weeks, with constituents able to sign it at one of 10 signing places, or by posting in a postal signing form.

It needed 6,967 signatures for the MP to lose her seat.

The council had sent out 13,000 postal signing forms, but the number of signatures throughout the process remained a closely guarded secret with only a few people knowing the running total.

The media was also not allowed to speculate on how many people may have been signing it.

The PT can now reveal that while the petition was active it was contacted by many residents in the south of the city wondering why they could not sign it, not realising that they live in the neighbouring North West Cambridgeshire constituency.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, had to be notified by the council of the Recall Petition result before it could be revealed to the public.

The Speaker will now issue a writ to the council calling a by-election, which must be held between 21 and 27 working days after the writ is received.

Recall Petitions came into force in 2016 and this is the first time one has been held in England.

The only previous petition was against Democratic Unionist Party MP Ian Paisley Jr who narrowly avoided being recalled after he was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days last July for failing to declare two holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

That Recall Petition was signed by 9.4 per cent of voters in his North Antrim constituency.

Ms Onasanya has continued to protest her innocence despite losing her appeal over her conviction. The day before the Recall Petition opened the MP released a video where, sitting in front of a backdrop of New York, she pleaded with constituents not to kick her out of office, adding: “I will continue to be your voice for change in Parliament for as long as you wish me to do so.”

Ms Onasanya was seen as a rising star in the Labour Party before her conviction after being promoted to become a whip.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also campaigned alongside her in 2017 in the run-up to her election victory.

Mr Corbyn was back in the city on Saturday campaigning ahead of tomorrow’s local elections.

Asked on the day whether he wanted residents to sign the Recall Petition, he replied: “They should sign it.

He added: “I’m very sad with what happened to her, but we have to move on.” </s> Disgraced Fiona Onasanya has been booted out as an MP after her constituents voted to force a by-election.

The Peterborough MP, who ousted Tory Stewart Jackson in 2017 on a majority of just 607, was jailed and expelled from the Labour Party after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

And rare recall petition - only the second ever of its kind - opened on March 19, giving voters a chance to boot her out.

Speaker John Bercow confirmed today that the petition was signed by 10% of her constituents, that she was no longer the MP for Peterborough and a by-election would take place in the seat.

Nigel Farage has already confirmed his new Brexit Party will stand in the by-election, but did not say who the candidate would be.

He added: "We will give it our best shot"

Both Labour and the Conservatives have already selected their candidates to fight for the seat.

Labour Party Chair Ian Lavery said: “Labour campaigned hard for a victory in this recall petition. The people of Peterborough clearly agree that Fiona Onasanya is not fit to be their MP and we’re delighted they will now have the chance to vote for a Labour MP in our excellent candidate, Lisa Forbes. Labour will move the writ tomorrow.

“Labour will vigorously fight the by-election here in Peterborough.

“The voters of Peterborough will have a stark choice: between the Tories who have cut police numbers while crime is rising, or Labour who will put more bobbies on the beat and cut crime; the Conservatives who are destroying our NHS, or Labour who will provide the doctors and nurses local hospitals in the region desperately need.

“And voters will have the choice between a Labour Party which will invest to create high skilled, well paid jobs, or the Tory policies that have left too many people here in Peterborough striving but barely surviving.”

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Peterborough Paul Bristow said: “The people of Peterborough deserve a better MP who will vote in Parliament to deliver Brexit. I’m delighted this result gives local people the chance to make their voices heard and vote for a better MP – and it will be a choice between Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour candidate and me. We have had a Labour MP who hasn’t improved the prospects of the local community and has consistently voted against delivering the referendum result to leave the EU.

“Peterborough’s choice will make a crucial difference to the future of what is already a thriving city, as well as one that has so much more potential. I’ll be fighting hard throughout this campaign to show why it is only a Conservative MP who can truly tackle crime and deliver the jobs and investment Peterborough needs, as well as to ensure Brexit is a success for the local community.”

Under a law passed in 2015, any MP suspended for more than 10 sitting days automatically triggers a "recall petition" that their constituents can sign.

A recall petition can force a by-election if it is signed by more than 10% of the electorate in the Cambridgeshire seat.

The petition will be open to sign for six weeks.

Onasanya can then stand as a candidate in the by-election.

As Onasanya is appealing her conviction and no recall petition can happened until this is dealt with.

A recall petition can be opened if an MP has been:
• convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence (including a suspended sentence) or ordered to be detained, other than solely under mental health legislation
• barred from the House of Commons for 10 sitting days or 14 calendar days, or
• convicted of providing false or misleading information for allowance claims under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009.

What did Fiona Onasanya do?

The Peterborough MP, who was expelled by the Labour Party, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by claiming someone else was driving her car on July 24 2017.

The Old Bailey heard how Miss Onasanya's Nissan Micra was clocked speeding at 41mph in a 30mph zone after visiting a former political aide in her constituency.

When she was sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution, Mr Onasanya, 34, sent it back claiming a Russian man was driving, even though he was abroad.

At the time, Miss Onasanya's life as a new MP was "chaotic" and she was coming to terms with being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

But when she was pursued by police, she maintained her brother's lie out of "misguided loyalty" with "disastrous" consequences, the court heard.

Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said he was certain she had been behind the wheel on July 24 and had she accepted the speeding offence it would have had "no real or lasting embarrassment" to her as an MP.

He told her: "The impact of your conviction has been disastrous for you."

The court heard Mr Onasanya, from Cambridge, provided false details to avoid speeding prosecutions on two other occasions.

He had nine points on his licence and faced losing his licence if he got any more, the court heard.

He was sentenced to 10 months in prison. </s> Fiona Onasanya: By-election in June after first-ever MP loses their seat by recall petition

Fiona Onasanya: By-election in June after first-ever MP loses their seat by recall petition

Fiona Onasanya is permitted to stand, but it is not yet clear whether she will do so

A by-election to replace the first MP to lose their seat through a recall petition has been set.

Electors in Peterborough will go to the polls on 6 June after more than a quarter of registered voters in the constituency signed the petition to remove Fiona Onasanya.

The 35-year-old solicitor was convicted earlier this year of perverting the course of justice for lying about a speeding offence.

Ms Onasanya is permitted to stand in the by-election under the recall rules, but it is not yet clear whether she will put herself forward.

She won the Cambridgeshire seat for Labour with a narrow majority of 607 in the 2017 general election.

Ms Onasanya was expelled from the party after being convicted, but remained in parliament as an independent until she was removed by the petition.

The Conservative Party's candidate is Paul Bristow, while Lisa Forbes is standing for Labour.

Nigel Farage's Brexit Party has confirmed it will contest the by-election, but has yet to decide on a candidate.

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The full list of declared candidates standing in the Peterborough by-election so far: </s> A petition to recall Independent MP Fiona Onasanya has secured the signatures of more than 10% of registered voters in her Peterborough constituency, forcing a by-election in which the former Labour MP may stand. Some 19,261 people signed the petition - 27.64% of those eligible to take part and well above the 10% threshold for a recall. The 35-year-old lawyer, who was jailed for perverting the course of justice, becomes the first MP ever to be removed by the recall process, introduced by David Cameron in 2015. Commons Speaker John Bercow also confirmed the recall petition had been successful.

He told MPs: "I must advise the House that I have received notification from the petition officer for the constituency of Peterborough, in respect of the recall petition for Fiona Onasanya. "The recall petition process for the constituency of Peterborough, established under the Recall of MPs Act 2015, closed today at 5pm.

"As more than 10% of those eligible signed the petition have done so, I advise the House that the petition was successful. "Fiona Onasanya is no longer the member for Peterborough and the seat is accordingly vacant. "She can therefore no longer participate in any parliamentary proceedings as a Member of Parliament."

Ms Onasanya was jailed for three months in January for lying to police to avoid a speeding ticket. The former Labour MP for Peterborough was found guilty of perverting the court of justice following a retrial in December. Ms Onasanya took the marginal seat from the Tories with a majority of just 607 at the 2017 election just 18 months ago. She had faced calls to step down and allow a by-election to take place in her constituency but refused.

Parliamentary rules require the removal of an MP who is jailed for 12 months which meant Onasanya did not immediately lose her seat, but a recall petition can force a by-election if it is signed by more than 10% of the electorate, as it was in the Cambridgeshire seat. Ms Onasanya has maintained her innocence throughout her prosecution. Nigel Farage said his new party would contest the by-election. He tweeted: "I can confirm that @brexitparty-uk will fight the Peterborough by-election. We will give it our best shot." Mr Farage told ITV News he will not be standing in the by-election, which is seen as a real opportunity for the Brexit Party. </s> The Labour party narrowly has denied the Brexit party its first parliamentary seat in eastern England.

Lisa Forbes won the election with 10,484 votes, defeating Brexit party candidate Mike Greene by less than 700 votes.

"Despite differing opinions across our city, the fact that the Brexit party have been rejected here in Peterborough shows that the politics of division will not win," newly elected Labour party candidate Lisa Forbes said.

Nigel Farage launched the Brexit party just eight weeks ago and the party was hoping to replicate its success in the European elections by winning its first UK parliamentary seat.

Farage's party won the most seats in the UK's European Parliament elections, winning 30.74% of the vote.

"If we can come so close in our 201st target seat, no seat is safe," the Brexit party tweeted about the Peterborough election.

The vote was triggered when former Labour MP, Fiona Onasanya, was ousted in a recall process after she was jailed for lying about a speeding offence.

Onasanya had defeated the Conservative candidate by just 607 votes in the 2017 general election.

Peterborough voted to Leave the European Union 61% to 39% in the 2016 referendum. Since the referendum, lawmakers have struggled to pass a deal through parliament.

Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May is set to step officially down from her role as party leader today. </s> The defeated Brexit Party candidate at the by-election in Peterborough insists he will be back at a general election - and will take the seat.

Mike Greene came second by 683 votes to Labour's Lisa Forbes in the first ever parliamentary election contested by the Brexit Party.

RELATED: Labour Party candidate Lisa Forbes wins Peterborough by-election

Brexit Party 'politics of division' beaten by hope, says new MP for Peterborough Lisa Forbes

New Peterborough MP Lisa Forbes says voters cared more about crime than Brexit after by-election win

And despite not claiming a seat they were odds on to win according to the bookies, self-made millionaire Mr Greene was confident of electoral success in the near future.

Asked what he intends to do with himself after his defeat, he said: "I've been living in Peterborough a third of my life. The last seven years has been charity and community. I will keep doing that stuff. I wasn't doing it because of politics.

"And I will be back in a general election. I am (going to run). We've learnt a lot in four weeks. Look how far we came against decades of data. Just see what happens when we come back next time."

The Brexit Party was launched eight weeks ago and had to quickly mobilise once the by-election in Peterborough was called following the ousting of former MP Fiona Onansaya through a Recall Petition after she was jailed for perverting the course of justice.

Mr Greene said he believed the Conservatives's failure to deliver Brexit will help his party take the Leave constituency in the future.

He added: "I'm sure the Government will let people down on Brexit again come October, there'll be a general election, we'll be back, and watch what happens next time.

"If you look at those votes, then Leave voters far outweighed Labour. It's because people wanted to believe in the Conservative Party, even though they've been let down again and again.

"So that held up a bit stronger than people expected it to, but it still fell behind us."

Mr Greene said people had been "betrayed", but added: "Sometimes people get cheated but still want to believe in the person that's cheating them." </s> Labour has narrowly held on to Peterborough in the by-election, defeating the Brexit Party by just 683 votes.

The Conservative candidate came in third place.

Labour’s Lisa Forbes, who won by 10,484 votes in total, praised the result as a defeat for the Brexit Party’s “politics of division”.

“Despite the differing opinions across our city, the fact that the Brexit Party have been rejected here in Peterborough shows that the politics of division will not win,” she said, after her victory was announced.

Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party had been hoping to gain its first MP in the eastern England constituency, which voted 60.9 per cent for Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

In a tweet, the party said it was a “remarkable result” for an organisation that launched six months ago.

“If we can come so close in our 201st target seat, no seat is safe,” it said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the result was a “great win”.

“In this key seat, the Conservatives have been pushed to the margins,” he said.

“This result shows that in spite of the divisions and deadlock over Brexit, when it comes to a vote on the issues that directly affect people’s lives, Labour’s case for real change has strong support across the country.”

Labour won 10,484 votes to the Brexit Party’s 9,801, with the Tories on 7,243 votes in a seat which has traditionally been a two-way Conservative-Labour marginal.

The by-election in Peterborough was called after the previous MP, Fiona Onasanya, was forced out. She was jailed for lying about a speeding offence. </s> Fiona Onasanya has become the first ever MP to be removed from office following a recall petition.

Onasanya, the former MP for Peterborough, was found guilty of lying to avoid a speeding ticket and sentenced to three months in prison. She was released after serving less than a month in jail.

In a statement released shortly after the recall petition votes were counted on Tuesday, Peterborough City Council said: “19,261 people signed the Peterborough parliamentary seat recall petition – 27.64 per cent of the number of people eligible to sign. The petition is successful and the Peterborough seat is now vacant.”

The number of signatories amounted to 27.6 per cent of eligible voters. For Onasanya’s removal to be prompted under a recall petition, 10 per cent of her constituents needed to sign in favour of her losing her seat in order for her to be removed.

Petitions can be triggered in the event that an MP is convicted of an offence in the UK and handed a custodial sentence, including a suspended sentence.

In Parliament, Commons speaker John Bercow relayed to MPs the outcome of the petition.

Bercow said: “Fiona Onasanya is no longer the member for Peterborough and the seat is accordingly vacant.

“She can therefore no longer participate in any parliamentary proceedings as a member of parliament.”

The former Labour Party member has repeatedly denied guilt. In March she lost an appeal against her conviction.

Onasanya, 35, who was first elected in 2017, will be eligible to stand in the by-election, which is expected to take place in early June.

Nigel Farage has announced that his Brexit Party will compete in the Peterborough by-election.

“I can confirm that @brexitparty_uk will fight the Peterborough by-election. We will give it our best shot,” he tweeted.
The Labour Party holds the Peterborough seat in the by-election, defying predictions that they would lose the seat to the Brexit Party. The seat was vacated after a successful recall petition against its previous MP Fiona Onasanya.