Labour MP Mike Amesbury looks downcast as he breaks cover for first time since punching constituent
LABOUR MP Mike Amesbury looked downcast as he was spotted for the first time since punching a constituent.
The politician, 55, was caught on camera flooring a man with a left hook before appearing to unleash a number of punches in the early hours of Saturday.
Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn & Helsby in Cheshire, was involved in the scuffle in Frodsham, Cheshire, within his own Runcorn and Helsby constituency.
He has since been suspended and quizzed by cops, as pressure grows for him to stand down – and he’s been warned he faces prison.
The Labour MP had a gloomy look on his face as he ventured out to a shopping centre in Yorkshire.
Dressed in a black jacket and blue jeans the despondent politician had his hands in his coat pockets.
He is thought to be staying with a family member.
The Labour MP released a statement prior to the damning CCTV evidence emerging saying he had “felt threatened” during the 2.15am altercation.
Hours before the brawl, he had attended a meeting with the local police commissioner in which he said he was “listening to residents concerns and ideas for policing and community safety”.
Initial mobile phone video showed the MP shouting “you’ll never threaten me again” as the man lay on the ground next to a taxi rank.
When someone in the background points out Amesbury is the local MP, he says: “Yes I am. You won’t threaten the MP ever again, will you?”
However, CCTV footage then emerged showing him seemingly throwing the first punch.
He appears in animated fashion before letting loose the strike to the man’s head.
The MP then continues to swing up to six more strikes at the man while he’s sat on the floor – though it’s unclear how many connect.
Suspending the Labour whip in the Commons, a party spokesman 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.”
Sir Keir Starmer said the incident was “shocking” and defended Labour’s decision to suspend him.
The man he punched has since been identified as Paul Fellows, 42, reports The Times.
A witness has claimed that Fellows had been talking to Amesbury about plans to close a nearby bridge for 33 days between January and March for engineering works.
Amesbury had previously described the closure of the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, which carries the A56 over the River Weaver Navigation, as “unacceptable”.
The source added that the conversation also touched on the winter fuel allowance before it grew “heated” on both sides.
However, they claimed there had been no physical provocation until the punch.
Cheshire police confirmed that a 55-year-old man had been voluntarily interviewed under caution about the incident and had been released pending further inquiries.