A former Labour MP who was convicted of harassing a love rival has lost her appeal against conviction but her sentence has been reduced, meaning her constituents will no longer be able to recall her.
A judge ruled on Thursday that Claudia Webbe, who is currently representing Leicester East as an independent, had not threatened Michelle Merritt, 59, with acid, and he overturned the 10-week suspended sentence that she was given last year.
Webbe, 57, was expelled from the Labour Party after she was convicted in November of harassing Merritt between September 2018 and April 2020.
She faced a recall petition, which could have resulted in a by-election, but because the suspended sentence was thrown out she no longer faces that threat and can remain as the independent MP for Leicester East until 2024….