An MP who was found guilty of lying to avoid a speeding ticket will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, a decision that could spark a closely contested byelection within weeks. If Fiona Onasanya, elected on a Labour ticket to represent Peterborough, receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, she will automatically be forced to step down. With expectations high that she will receive a substantial term, Labour and the Conservative party are campaigning hard in the Cambridgeshire city that she won by just 607 votes in 2017. Both parties are aware that a snap byelection could be the first opportunity for voters to use the ballot box to give their verdict on Brexit negotiations since Theresa May came back from Brussels with her deal. Disowned by Labour and Jeremy Corbyn, Onasanya has said she will appeal against her conviction and fight to remain as an MP, but this will not prevent her from being sentenced on Tuesday. If she is sentenced to a year or less in prison, even if … [Read more...] about Sentencing of MP who lied to avoid speeding ticket could spark byelection
Waddon byelection
Anwar Ibrahim returns to Malaysian politics with landslide byelection victory
Former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has won a byelection with a landslide victory in a grand political comeback that will help him prepare for his eventual takeover from the current prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar was designated as Mahathir’s successor after the two men set aside a bitter feud and joined hands to capture a stunning victory in May’s general election. Anwar could not participate in the election due to a sodomy conviction, a charge that he alleged was politically motivated. He was freed and received a royal pardon days after the polls. The Malaysian election commission said Anwar received 31,016 votes for the parliamentary seat in the southern coastal town of Port Dickson, defeating six other candidates. His closest rival secured only 7,456 votes. Anwar said his huge margin of victory was unexpected and called it a “convincing” win. “This to my mind is an important milestone, a vote of confidence for the government … [Read more...] about Anwar Ibrahim returns to Malaysian politics with landslide byelection victory
Frank Field: I will not trigger a byelection
Frank Field has decided he will not trigger a byelection following his decision to resign the Labour party whip, citing the issues of antisemitism and bullying.. The veteran chair of the work and pensions committee said he would continue to represent his constituents and had been approached by the law firm Mischcon de Reya as he prepared to fight any attempt by Labour to expel him from the party. The developments came as senior figures within the party, including John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, expressed hope that the row could be solved without further political damage and the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, expressed bafflement at Field’s decision to resign. Field stood down from the parliamentary whip on Thursday night after claiming Labour risked becoming a “force for antisemitism” and had allowed a “culture of nastiness, bullying, and intimidation” that was “simply disgraceful”. He also refused to rule out forcing a by election. In an … [Read more...] about Frank Field: I will not trigger a byelection
Frank Field not ruling out byelection after resigning Labour whip
Frank Field has refused to rule out triggering a byelection after resigning the Labour whip, saying Jeremy Corbyn had failed to address the reasons for his decision. The veteran Birkenhead MP, who was due to hold talks on Friday with Labour’s chief whip, Nick Brown, told the Guardian he had yet to decide on his next step after announcing that he had resigned the whip because of antisemitism and a culture of bullying in the party. “I am very clear in the letter to Nick that I wish to remain a member of the Labour party as I have been for 60 years. But I wish to sit as an independent Labour party member,” Field said. Asked whether he would stand down if requested to do so by Labour, Field said: “These are early days and I certainly want to fight the seat at the next election as a Labour candidate. If I don’t, I will fight as an independent Labour candidate. The voters will decide. They are the sovereign body.” He declined to rule out resigning his … [Read more...] about Frank Field not ruling out byelection after resigning Labour whip
Ian Paisley could face byelection after breaking Commons rules
The Democratic Unionist party MP Ian Paisley could be forced to stand down and face a byelection after a serious breach of parliamentary rules. The member for North Antrim is already facing a suspension from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days after becoming a “paid advocate” for the Sri Lankan government and failing to declare family holidays worth at least £50,000. His suspension will have repercussions for Theresa May’s government. Her working majority will be reduced by one until November, as the government tries to pass contentious Brexit legislation. The 30-day ban, if accepted, could trigger a recall petition following a recent change to legislation. If 10% of the electorate signs a petition within six weeks, a byelection would take place at which Paisley could stand again. Political opponents in Northern Ireland, including the Ulster Unionist party, the SDLP and Sinn Féin, have called for him to resign or face a public vote. A spokesperson … [Read more...] about Ian Paisley could face byelection after breaking Commons rules