Recall petition for convicted Tory MP Chris Davies closes

Chris Davies is the third MP to face a recall petition

A petition which could unseat a Welsh Conservative MP convicted for a false expenses claim has now closed.

Mr Davies admitted faking invoices, at Southwark Crown Court, in March.

A by-election will be triggered if 10% of the electorate in the constituency, 5,303 voters, have signed the petition.

The petition will be verified and counted at 10:00 BST on Friday at Powys County Hall in Llandrindod Wells. The result is expected by lunchtime.

A petition officer will notify House of Commons Speaker John Bercow before the outcome is made public.

Recall petitions are launched when MPs receive a custodial sentence, including suspended sentences, are barred from the Commons for 10 sitting days or are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

Peterborough's former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya became the first MP to be unseated from the Commons in a recall petition in May after she was jailed for perverting the course of justice.