Shamed MP Fiona Onasanya, 35, is accused of discriminating against disabled employee who was 'told to use the gents' while working at constituency office

  • Arthritic Jane Goodenough faced walking from first to third floor to use toilet 
  • She suffers from irritable bowel syndrome and raised concerns with employer 
  • Alleges Onasanya responded by telling her to use the nearest gents' toilets 

Onasanya (pictured outside Cambridge County Court today) is accused of discriminating against a disabled employee

Onasanya (pictured outside Cambridge County Court today) is accused of discriminating against a disabled employee

Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya discriminated against a disabled employee who worked in her constituency office for a month, it was claimed at a tribunal today.

The former Labour MP for Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was accused of discriminating against case worker Jane Goodenough.

Ms Goodenough, who has multiple sclerosis, IBS, heart problems, chronic fatigue and arthritis, joined the MP's office as a part-time worker in Sept 2017. 

Faced with walking from the first floor office to the disabled toilet on the third floor, she raised concerns with Onasanya.

But she says that the politician told her to used the men's, telling her she won't have to walk past a urinal to use the toilet.  

Judge Michael Ord heard at Cambridge County Court how the claimant said she had made her medical conditions clear in interview.

Today the tribunal heard that Ms Goodenough was left 'heartbroken and betrayed' by Ms Onasanya and was left with 'no other option but to resign'. 

It comes after the 35-year-old MP was jailed for three months in January for lying to police.

Ms Goodenough - who is in her 50s - says she faced problems with access to disabled lifts, parking and toilets at the Eco Innovation Centre in Peterborough while working for the disgraced politician.

Onasanya (pictured) is accused of discriminating against a disabled employee at her constituency office

Onasanya (pictured) is accused of discriminating against a disabled employee at her constituency office

She said it was also agreed in the interview that she carry out 22 and a half hours a week, which is equivalent to the three days, and was able to work 'flexi-hours'.

Ms Goodenough told the court she worked on the first floor but the nearest female toilets were located on the ground and second floors and the disabled toilet was on the third.

When she raised this, she says she was told to use the closest male toilets on the first floor in case of an emergency.

Speaking to the first witness Mr Robert Grayson, who conducted her original interview, Ms Goodenough said: 'I explained that my bowel incontinence is bad four or five times a week. It can fluctuate remarkably and be unpredictable.

Pictured: The Eco Innovation centre in Peterborough, where Ms Goodenough claims she face discrimination over her disability

Pictured: The Eco Innovation centre in Peterborough, where Ms Goodenough claims she face discrimination over her disability 

'The nearest disabled toilets are on the third floor - I would have to walk with my arthritic little legs from the first floor to the third floor toilets.'

Ms Goodenough told the court that it had been suggested that she use the men's toilets, which were situated on the same floor as the office, in an emergency.

Speaking to Mr Grayson she said: 'I recall you saying that I wouldn't have to walk past a urinal.'

Judge Ord followed by saying: 'No female member of staff should ever be asked to use the male toilets.'

In response, Mr Grayson said that the suggestion was a 'flippant comment' and that he had told Ms Goodenough that 'it was a joke'.

Ms Goodenough, who was cross examined this afternoon by Ms Onasanya's representative Mr Stuart Brittendon, said the key issues were that the MP should have chosen a different building to host her office. 

The court heard that the disabled lift was also broken in the office 'for what felt like months' while Ms Goodenough was employed.

The disabled employee was also allocated a parking space '50 paces from the front door of the building', which required steps up to the entrance.

Ms Goodenough, handed her resignation in on November 7, 2017 after a 'personality clash' with the Labour MP.

In the witness statement, Mr Grayson said Ms Goodenough had 'corrected Fiona in front of a constituent' which led to her resignation.

Giving evidence this afternoon, the former employee said that she had also experienced a build up of 'passive aggressive behaviour' after a discussion with the MP.

Ms Goodenough (pictured) has accused the disgraced Labour MP of discriminating against her

Ms Goodenough (pictured) has accused the disgraced Labour MP of discriminating against her 

Explaining the discussion, Ms Goodenough said: 'Fiona was mispronouncing the word 'eligible' - she was saying "illegible".

'She said it about seven times while on the phone and in front of a constituent. I had a notepad next to me and wrote 'eligible not illegible' and underlined it.

'The notepad was upside down and across the table from woman who had cataracts. I did not say anything in front of the constituent.' 

Mr Brittendon told the court that his client recalled Ms Goodenough telling her that 'if you don't speak properly people won't understand what you are saying'.

Ms Goodenough said the MP was mis-remembering and said the discussion had in fact after the constituent and the conversation was a 'mildly heated discussion' because Ms Onasanya 'felt undermined'.

In her witness statement, Ms Goodenough said the MP had 'taken offence' and 'immediately insisted' that she started working full-time hours - something she had already explained she could not do due to her medical conditions.

The former employee said it was from this point that the MP's body language started to become passive aggressive.

Ms Goodenough felt her hours were 'beyond' her as her fluctuating energy levels meant she could not work consecutive days as asked.

The court also heard that the building that the MP's office suite was a revamp from an ancient building where women were not employed and ladies' toilets were therefore not installed.

Ms Goodenough said: 'I do think in modern regulations that the male loos could have been changed to unisex loos.

'The real issue is that the respondent should have had her office in a different building or on the ground floor.

'If there had been accessible loos close by and a working lift, I think it could have worked out.

'Conditions changed and conditions weren't met and that is what brought my employment to an end.'

Ms Goodenough also told the court that she was made to feel like she was 'milking' her medical issues.

She said: 'There was no other option for me than to resign - unless I was going to suffer the continual stress of potential humiliation.'

In an email sent to Ms Onasanya regarding her resignation, Ms Goodenough referenced the limited access to the toilets by the lift, the issue with her allocated parking space and the suggestion that was made to her about the male toilets.

The case is due to continue for three days. Ms Onasayna - who was in court for the hearing - was expelled from the Labour party in December 2018 after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

She now stands as an independent. A jury found that she had lied to police about the identity of who was driving her car when it was caught speeding.

The MP faces a possible by-election as a 'recall petition' has been opened in her constituency which is due to close in May. If ten per cent of her constituents sign the petition a by-election will be held.

The former Labour MP today sat at the back of the court wearing knee high boots which covered the electronic tag that she was issued when she left prison in February.