TORY MP Chris Davies could have to fight for his seat in a by-election after it was confirmed a recall petition will be opened.
The Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire was yesterday fined £1,500 and told to carry out 50 hours unpaid work after he admitted two offences related to fake expenses claims.
The judge at London’s Southwark Crown Court warned the MP the proceedings can lead to the opening of a petition allowing local voters to demand a by-election.
In the House of Commons today Speaker John Bercow confirmed he will be writing to Powys County Council to make the arrangements for a recall petition.
The Speaker told the House: "I have received a communication this afternoon from Southwark Crown Court informing me that Chris Davies, the member for Brecon and Radnorshire, has been convicted of providing false or misleading information for a Parliamentary allowances claim.
"Since Mr Davies pleaded guilty there can be no appeal against conviction. This notification, accordingly, triggers the provisions of the recall of MPs act 2015. I will be writing to the relevant petitions officer to inform that person that Chris Davies is therefore subject to a recall petition. The process is for that officer to make the arrangements for the petition."
The act allows for a recall petition to be opened if an MP has been convicted of an offence but sentenced to less than 12 months in jail.
To trigger a by-election 10% of constituents must sign a petition which will be available in various locations across the constituency for a six week period. Around 5,300 signatures will be required in Brecon and Radnorshire to force a by-election in which Mr Davies would be entitled to stand.
The Liberal Democrats, who held the seat for 23 years before Mr Davies took it for the Conservatives in the 2015 general election, and Labour have already called for him to stand down.
The Conservative was convicted of providing a false expenses claim and attempting to submit a false claim.
He had split a £700 invoice for photographs for his Builth Wells constituency office in two to claim from two separate expense accounts in March 2016. He had already paid for the photographs from his own money and was entitled to claim the costs back but not to create two new invoices himself.
He entered his guilty pleas at a hearing before Westminster Magistrates Court in March.
It is thought Powys council will open the recall petition in early May.Mr Davies hasn't been suspended by the Conservatives, who have said he has been given a formal warning, and the party has said local voters should decide his future.After his sentencing Mr Davies said he wanted to continue in his role "serving the people of Brecon and Radnorshire as their MP".MP wanted his office manager to submit false expenses claim - see this week's Brecon & Radnor Express on sale now