Just like Jesus

[Nearly Sane]

Mmm


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/28/convicted-mp-fiona-onasanya-intends-to-stay-in-parliament?CMP=twt_gu

[Roses]

What a disgrace that woman is, I am glad Labour did the decent thing and suspended her. 

[jeremyp]

Why is she claiming that her trial and conviction for lying about a speeding ticket has a parallel in Jesus' conviction and sentencing to death?

[SteveH]

What a disgrace that woman is, I am glad Labour did the decent thing and suspended her.

She did one wrong thing. That hardly makes her a disgrace. She has achieved a lot despite being disabled with MS. I think she shpould be given another chance.

[Nearly Sane]

Surely it's 2 things wrong? The speeding and the lying?

[Roses]

She did one wrong thing. That hardly makes her a disgrace. She has achieved a lot despite being disabled with MS. I think she shpould be given another chance.

I don't think she should be given another chance, what she did was very wrong indeed and she should pay for her crime.

[SteveH]

I don't think she should be given another chance, what she did was very wrong indeed and she should pay for her crime.

Don't overdo the charitable forgiveness, will you?

[Roses]

Don't overdo the charitable forgiveness, will you?

It is not me who can offer her forgiveness, but the person whom she claimed had been driving the car, when it was her that was the driver.

[SteveH]

It is not me who can offer her forgiveness, but the person whom she claimed had been driving the car, when it was her that was the driver.

It doesn't seem to work the other way; youseem perfectly happy to offer condemnation.

[Roses]

It doesn't seem to work the other way; youseem perfectly happy to offer condemnation.

Of course I condemn her for lying about her reckless driving by blaming someone else for it, it does her no credit at all. She certainly won't have done Labour any good because come the next election they are likely to loose the seat as it is marginal, I believe.

[Robbie]

Loose seats are quite dangerous especially lavatory seats.

I think she should have another chance. She's not the only one to have lied in that way, I remember a few years ago a man doing the same, said his wife drove the car. When they split up, she spilled the beans.

She has been very good in her constituency, I think the locals will forgive her.

[Nearly Sane]

Loose seats are quite dangerous especially lavatory seats.

I think she should have another chance. She's not the only one to have lied in that way, I remember a few years ago a man doing the same, said his wife drove the car. When they split up, she spilled the beans.

She has been very good in her constituency, I think the locals will forgive her.

I think you are thinking about Chris Huhne. Do you think speeding and then lying about it, would mean you kept your job? Does it have any other impact if you are a lawmaker?

[Robbie]

My job? I can't see me speeding or, if I did, lying about it, frankly. I'd probably just pay the fine as would most people. My husband was fined for speeding some years ago, he was fed up about it as he was only a little over the speed limit but it was out in the country where the traffic police are a lot hotter on speeding.

I'd keep my job, probably get some sympathy from colleagues too.

I honestly cannot understand why Fiona Onasanya lied! I can only assume she panicked. Reading up on it (& there seem to be two cases), she might have been confused about the dates on which she was driving. She's still protesting her innocence.

If she is kicked out I hope it won't be forever.

[Nearly Sane]

My job? I can't see me speeding or, if I did, lying about it, frankly. I'd probably just pay the fine as would most people. My husband was fined for speeding some years ago, he was fed up about it as he was only a little over the speed limit but it was out in the country where the traffic police are a lot hotter on speeding.

I'd keep my job, probably get some sympathy from colleagues too.

I honestly cannot understand why Fiona Onasanya lied! I can only assume she panicked. Reading up on it (& there seem to be two cases), she might have been confused about the dates on which she was driving. She's still protesting her innocence.

If she is kicked out I hope it won't be forever.

I would keep my job if I got done for speeding. The question though is whether you would keep your job if you got done for obstructing justice.

[Robbie]

I honestly don't know and am glad it isn't my decision, a lot will depend on if whether colleagues believe she was lying or if she was confused about dates. She has been convicted of perverting the course of justice, that doesn't mean she did. She's due to be sentenced next month.

Chris Huhne and his ex wife did time for a few weeks in a CatD prison.
So stupid to lie about something like that, totally unnecessary. Even if he'd been banned from driving, it wouldn't have been forever.

If Fiona is banished into the wilderness, I hope she can come back eventually.

[ProfessorDavey]

I honestly don't know and am glad it isn't my decision, a lot will depend on if whether colleagues believe she was lying or if she was confused about dates.

I suspect they'd bow to the court verdict - see below.

She has been convicted of perverting the course of justice, that doesn't mean she did. She's due to be sentenced next month.

Well the court seems to think she did with a threshold of beyond reasonable doubt. She can, I guess, appeal but if that isn't successful then we will take the usual route of concluding that she did lie. That's how the justice system works.

So to return to your earlier question - if she has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice and isn't successful in an appeal I think her colleagues will, quite reasonably, conclude that she was lying.

[jeremyp]

She did one wrong thing. That hardly makes her a disgrace.

She committed a speeding offence, which I agree is pretty minor, but then she lied about who was driving the car to the police. That is not minor. She's a solicitor and should therefore know the law. She's an MP which means she should have some integrity.

She has achieved a lot despite being disabled with MS. I think she shpould be given another chance.

By whom? The courts or her constituents? If the courts, I'm not a fan of reduced sentences for people who have "achieved a lot" and for disabled people only in extenuating circumstances. If her constituents, fine, it's up to them (as long as her custodial sentence is less than twelve months).

[jeremyp]

She has been convicted of perverting the course of justice, that doesn't mean she did.

Yes it does.

Or are you claiming she was wrongly convicted?

[Roses]

My job? I can't see me speeding or, if I did, lying about it, frankly. I'd probably just pay the fine as would most people. My husband was fined for speeding some years ago, he was fed up about it as he was only a little over the speed limit but it was out in the country where the traffic police are a lot hotter on speeding.

I'd keep my job, probably get some sympathy from colleagues too.

I honestly cannot understand why Fiona Onasanya lied! I can only assume she panicked. Reading up on it (& there seem to be two cases), she might have been confused about the dates on which she was driving. She's still protesting her innocence.

If she is kicked out I hope it won't be forever.

I think that woman was rightly convicted, if she is kicked out I hope she will never be permitted to crawl back in again as she lacks integrity.

[SteveH]

I think that woman was rightly convicted, if she is kicked out I hope she will never be permitted to crawl back in again as she lacks integrity.

You really are a hard-hearted, bitter, vindictive old so-and-so, underneath the cheery facade, aren't you?

[Roses]

You really are a hard-hearted, bitter, vindictive old so-and-so, underneath the cheery facade, aren't you?

Coming from you that must be a compliment!

[SteveH]

Coming from you that must be a compliment!

That doesn't even make sense.

[Roses]

That doesn't even make sense.

I should feel honoured that you take so much notice of my contribution to this forum, it is sad you haven't anything better to do. Why don't you take a cycle ride to Mars and back, that might keep you occupied for a day or two.

[Aruntraveller]

Moderators Note: As it is New Years Eve I will take the last few posts as happy banter precipitated by the thought of champagne and fireworks, but if we could amble back in the direction of parliamentary issues......

On which I'd like to say if you break the law (not speeding or adultery or other issues of that ilk) then you are not allowed to stand for 10 years after any sentence is served. It might concentrate a few minds.

[SteveH]

Only if you get a custodial sentence of more than a year, I think.