Labour MP Mike Amesbury suspended after video appears to show him punching a man

Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been suspended after a new video appeared to show him sucker punching and hitting a man without physical provocation.

CCTV footage has emerged appearing to show the moment Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, punched and hit a constituent repeatedly in Cheshire.

It appears to show Amesbury throwing a punch without any apparent physical provocation during a conversation in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The punch sends the man flying onto the car park behind before Amesbury appears to punch him six times, including on the face, while he is on the ground.

Now the Labour Party has confirmed it has suspended him.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party 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.’

Hours after the first video of the incident emerged, Amesbury said on social media he ‘felt threatened on the street following an evening out with friends.’

In a previous video circulated online, the 55-year-old appears to be standing over the man who is sat on the floor, while saying: ‘You won’t ever threaten me again, will you? You won’t ever threaten me again.’

After others in the footage point out he is the local MP, Mr Amesbury says: ‘Yes I am, and you won’t threaten the MP ever again, will you?’

Cheshire Police confirmed it was called to ‘reports of an assault in Frodsham’ at 2.48am on Saturday, October 26.

‘A caller reported he had been assaulted by a man in Main Street.

‘Enquiries are ongoing.’

Amesbury will cooperate with police inquiries, the party has said.

In a statement posted on X, 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, 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.’

Labour MP Bridget Phillipson said the incident is a ‘matter for the police’.

Asked whether the Labour Party was investigating, the Education Secretary told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: ‘Mike Amesbury, who’s the MP in question, has gone forward to the police.

‘He is co-operating with any investigation they would want to take forward. It is a matter for the police and we want to allow them to do that work.’

The Labour Party said previously: ‘We are aware of an incident that took place last night.

‘We understand that Mike Amesbury MP approached Cheshire Police to report what happened this morning himself and that he will cooperate with any inquiries they have.’

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