Agree on that.
On the other hand if she doesn't overturn the conviction she's cost the taxpayer two trials, an appeal and her £77k salary as an MP which is still being paid. All for when she could just have said, "it's a fair cop."
And that would have been the end of it - fine/maybe a ban, move on - remain an MP.TBH not having a car whilst down in Westminster isn't exactly a hardship and I'm sure her office people could have ferried her about on official business whilst in the constituency.What a clown.
I'd love to know on what fresh new evidence the appeal is based on.
I'd guess it's based on the 'don't you know who I am?' grounds of appeal.
Trauma-induced temporary dissociative identity disorder.
Dissociative disorders (of this type) are thought to be caused by trauma. Also most dissociation is a short time experience. Whatever - it's a defence mechanism.
So, can be used as a defence against prosecution.
...So I've read.
The trauma of realising you are about to be recalled by your constituents?
Judges can only rule on points of law, so unless the CPS made a few errors in how they presented the case then I doubt this will go forward. Even if this is rejected, she'll likely take it to the high court to appeal the appeal court's decision.
It's not in the gift of constituents to make a recall petition happen, Parliament controls the process. The Petition Officer can only start the petition process once the speaker informs them that an MP has met the conditions of the recall act 2015 and all appeals have been exhausted (which is why she's likely appealing her conviction). It pays to read up on how the process works rather than concentrate on the 10% needed to trigger the loss of a seat and a byelection. The Electoral Commission has a handy guide that sets out the process and what the spending limits are -
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/194057/Recall-spending.pdf
Yes we have a recall act, but it's structured in a way that it protects high ranking ministers from the wrath of constituents during a parliamentary term. If we had the direct power to recall MP's they might behave a little better. Including Prime Ministers.
What’s on at the Old Bailey today, Jan 29
Court 2 at 10am Sentence of former Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya and her brother Festus, who lied to get out of a speeding conviction.
"Former Peterborough MP?" "Former Labour MP" surely?
From Tom Barton's Twitter feed.
Note Festus's offences were previously viewable by a Google search and also had disappeared.
https://www.avforums.com/attachments/img_20190129_111432-jpg.1113587/