Following an altercation where he physically assaulted a constituent during a late-night altercation, MP Mike Amesbury has announced his decision to resign from his position.
Amesbury, a former Labour MP, received a suspended 10-week prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault by beating. The incident took place at a taxi rank in Frodsham, Cheshire, where Amesbury, aged 55, was confronted by constituent Paul Fellows, aged 45, regarding a local bridge closure.
Video evidence from the October altercation captured Amesbury, the Runcorn and Helsby MP, striking Mr. Fellows multiple times, causing him to fall to the ground before continuing the assault on the road. Amesbury was heard saying, “You won’t threaten your MP again, will you?”
Initially spending three nights in HMP Altcourse, Amesbury later had his sentence reduced to a suspended one on appeal. As part of his punishment, he is required to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, attend anger management sessions, and wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 120 days.
In a statement to the Mirror, Amesbury expressed his regret and announced his intention to step down, acknowledging his mistake and apologizing to those affected, particularly the victim, constituents, staff, and family. He admitted that responding physically to feeling threatened was a grave error that he deeply regrets.
Amesbury attributed his actions to feeling unsettled due to a stalker and receiving a death threat, prompting him to seek mental health support. Responding to criticism about continuing to receive his MP salary, he explained that his office manager handled casework during his absence.
The resignation of Amesbury will necessitate a by-election in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency, setting the stage for a contest between Labour and Reform UK. Despite securing a significant majority of 14,696 votes in the general election, Amesbury was suspended by Labour following the assault. Nigel Farage’s party came in second with 7,662 votes, followed by the Tories with 6,756 votes.
A Labour spokesperson emphasized the need for improved representation in the constituency and expressed anticipation for the selection of a new Labour MP to serve the local residents.
Under parliamentary rules, an MP cannot directly resign but must be disqualified through being appointed to the positions of either the Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead.
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