The alleged assault occurred hours after a local community safety meeting with the police.
Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been suspended from his party after CCTV footage appears to show him sucker punching a constituent in the face and subsequently hitting him several times when the man fell to the floor.
The incident happened in Amesbury’s constituency of Runcorn and Helsby, Cheshire on Saturday at 2:15am. In a phone recording, the backbencher can be heard telling the victim “You’ll never threaten the MP again.”
In response to the original allegations, Mike Amesbury said:
Last night, I was involved in an incident that took place after I felt threatened on the street following an evening out with friends. This morning [27 October], I contacted Cheshire Police myself to report what happened during this incident.
I will not be making further public comment but will, of course, cooperate with any inquiries if required by Cheshire Police. I remain fully committed to working hard for the people of Runcorn and Helsby, and am determined to remain an open and accessible MP for our community.
However, after the MailOnline revealed CCTV footage of the incident, the Labour Party suspended the whip and removed his membership. This video showed the former member of Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet hitting his constituent up to another six times after he was knocked onto the road.
Following this, a Labour Party spokesperson said:
Mike Amesbury MP has been assisting Cheshire Police with their inquiries following an incident on Friday night.
As these inquiries are now ongoing, the Labour Party has administratively suspended Mr Amesbury’s membership of the Labour Party pending an investigation.
A 55-year-old man has been voluntarily interviewed under caution by police in relation to this incident. He has since been released pending further enquiries.
Reform UK, which took second place in Runcorn and Helsby in July, has called for Amesbury to resign as an MP, therefore triggering a by-election.
The new footage of Mike Amesbury MP is damning. No matter what verbal exchanges happened before, it’s never acceptable for anyone to resort to violence to solve a dispute, let alone a sitting Member of Parliament.
It’s quite clear that the people of Runcorn and Helsby deserve far better than this.
Reform UK are today calling for Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held.
North West Bylines approached the MP for a comment, but so far there has been no response.
