News

News feeds |

Jones back in house

By LUCY MILLARD - 29-04-1999

Fiona Jones returned to Parliament as Newark's MP yesterday afternoon.

After a High Court ruling in London, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Miss Betty Boothroyd, cleared the way for her return. Miss Boothroyd told the House: "The Newark seat is not vacant."  

Link to BBC interview with Fiona Jones. © BBC.

Mrs Jones (42) lost the seat after she was convicted of falsifying her election expenses, but she was cleared on appeal. It was unclear if this meant she could reclaim the seat, and Miss Boothroyd asked for a ruling from the High Court.

Lord Justice Kennedy, vice-president of the Queen's Bench Division, and Mr Justice Mitchell, ruled in the High Court that Mrs Jones was entitled to resume her seat.

They will give their reasons today.

Mrs Jones told the Advertiser she was delighted that the matter finally seemed to be over.

"It has been a very stressful time for me and my family. I am looking forward to taking my seat again as soon as possible and getting back to work," she said.

Mrs Jones said she was grateful for the many letters of support she received from people in the constituency throughout the proceedings.

"Many never lost faith in me and I am grateful for that," she said.

Mrs Jones of Saxilby, was accused of making a false declaration of election expenses. She was sentenced to 100 hours' community service.

Her election agent, Mr Des Whicher (73) of George Street, Newark, was convicted of a similar offence and fined £750.

The Court of Appeal cleared them on April 15.

Mr Philip Sales, counsel for the Attorney General Mr John Morris, told the High Court on Wednesday that the question it faced was whether Mrs Jones could resume her seat or whether there would have to be a by-election.

Mr Sales said: "The balance of argument supports the view that the proper declaration to be made by the court should be to declare that, in the circumstances in this case, Mrs Jones is entitled to resume her seat as MP for Newark."

He said when an MP was elected, convicted, but then cleared on appeal, their incapacity to sit as an MP was removed.

"Ordinary fairness would suggest all consequences of their wrongful conviction should be eliminated," he said.

"They should not be penalised and should not be treated as being deprived of their right to sit as the duly elected MP for the constituency."

However, said Mr Sales, it might be argued that the words "vacate the seat", which had led to Mrs Jones' current position, meant the seat could be filled again only after a new election.

Mr Roy Amlot QC, for Mrs Jones, said: "Ordinary and common sense considerations of fairness and justice require that Mrs Jones, should not be deprived of her seat in Parliament."

Click here to go back a page