GMB London Region welcomes the decision by the electorate of Peterborough to recall their MP Fiona Onansanya
GMB London Region Welcomes Peterborough By-Election
GMB London Region welcomes the decision by the electorate of Peterborough to recall their MP Fiona Onansanya, following her criminal conviction and jail sentence earlier this year, following which she was expelled from the Labour Party. Despite this, she resisted calls for her to resign as an MP and continued to sit as an Independent.
This is the first time that the recall of an MP mechanism introduced in 2015, has been successful. The petition required 10% of the electorate to sign and this threshold was exceeded when over 19,000 people signed the petition to recall Ms Onasanya, which is over 27% of the Peterborough electorate.
As of 1st May Ms Onasanya is no longer the MP and the seat is vacant until the by-election is held.
The Labour Party has already selected their candidate, former local Councillor and GMB member Lisa Forbes.
Lisa is the candidate who achieved overwhelming support from the local party members and affiliated trade unions.
Lisa is confident of increasing the slim Labour majority of just over 600 and ensuring that Peterborough has a real Labour MP representing their interests in Westminster.
The GMB will be out campaigning to get Lisa elected and we are already planning a day of action with our fellow trade unions in support of her campaign on Saturday 18th May. More details will follow but keep the date free.
As soon as we know the date of the by-election we will update you.
Vaughan West GMB Regional Political Officer said
“Peterborough deserves a Labour MP and Lisa Forbes is the person that will deliver for all the people of the city”
ENDS
