By Ashley Young-
Disgraced former MP Fiona Onasanya has been struck off the roll of solicitors , following her conviction for perverting the course of justice.
The decision to strike off the former Mp was made today by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Onasanya was found to have failed to act with integrity and failed to behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in her and the provision of legal services. She was also found to have acted dishonestly.
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Onasanya was struck after a half-day hearing that saw the £22,762 costs claimed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority reduced to £6,562.
Delivering the verdict to strike off the shamed Mp, Nally said: ‘A solicitor owes a duty to the court and, whilst a parliamentarian makes the law as an officer of the court, a solicitor must uphold the rule of law and administration of justice. Sadly in this case Miss Onasanya has failed in those duties.’
He added that the matter has had ‘disastrous consequences both personally and professionally’ and that the tribunal had taken full account of this.
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Onasanya was jailed for three months for perverting the course of justice in connection with a speeding offence. She continued as an MP during her time in prison. Her application for permission to appeal against the conviction was rejected by the Court of Appeal in March.
Representing herself at the tribunal today, Onasanya maintained her innocence. She told the tribunal: ‘I did not do an act intending to pervert the course of justice. I maintain that stance, it was the same at trials where I pled not guilty.’
She said her driving licence remained clean and there was no benefit to her from lying about the identity of the driver.
Nimi Bruce, representing the SRA, said the judge in her case said she had ‘let down those who look to you for inspiration, your party, your profession and parliament’. The decision to strip the former Mp of her legal credentials will deeply hurt her, but sends a message to legal practitioners that much is expected of them.
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