Fiona Onasanya’s former case worker tells discrimination tribunal the Peterborough MP’s office was ‘unsuitable’ for disabled people

A woman who worked for Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya told a tribunal the MP should have picked another office space for her constituency base as the one she selected was unsuitable for disabled people.
Fiona Onasanya entering court. Photo: Terry HarrisFiona Onasanya entering court. Photo: Terry Harris
Fiona Onasanya entering court. Photo: Terry Harris

Jan Goodenough, who worked as a case worker for Ms Onasanya in 2017, told a hearing at Cambridge County Court the office at the Eco Innovation Centre in Peterborough only had one lift, and the first floor office did not have ladies toilets.

Ms Goodenough, who says she was discriminated against by Ms Onasanya on the grounds of her disabilities, suffers from arthritis, IBS and chronic fatigue syndrome, and says the toilets were too far away from the office..

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She also said she had been promised flexible part-time working when she started in her role, but was later told she had to be at the office on Mondays and Tuesdays between 9am and 5pm.

Jan Goodenough outside the court. Photo: Terry HarrisJan Goodenough outside the court. Photo: Terry Harris
Jan Goodenough outside the court. Photo: Terry Harris

Ms Goodenough, who is representing herself, told the hearing she was never told why the office had been chosen.

She said: “I presume it fits in with a modern mindset of being eco-friendly and forward thinking.

“It has one lift.”

Stuart Brittenden, representing Ms Onasanya, suggested Ms Goodenough had refused to work in a downstairs meeting room, closer to toilets.

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She said: “I felt it would be discriminatory to work in isolation because of my disability. But if there was a need to I would have done so. I never asked to, and I was never asked to.”

The hearing heard Ms Goodenough had been told she could use the male toilets - but Rob Grayston, the constituency manager at the time, told the hearing it had been done in a ‘flippant’ manner.

Ms Goodenough told the hearing she had had disagreement with Ms Onasanya when she corrected the then Labour MP’s pronunciation of words.
She said she had told Ms Onasanya she was mispronouncing eligible and illegible.

Ms Goodenough told the hearing she had not done so in front of a constituent - and was later told she had to work 9-5 Monday and Tuesday.

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Ms Goodenough handed her resignation in on November 7 - and on November 8 wrote to Ms Onasanya to explain why she had done so - and she was asked by Mr Brittenden if she had hoped Ms Onasanya could have done something about the problems.

She said: “No, I had already made my decision. The real issue is the choice of building.”

Ms Onasanya denies discrimination. The hearing continues.

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