Suspended Labour MP spotted for first time since footage showed him punch a constituent

Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been spotted for the first time since he was suspended after footage emerged appearing to show him sucker punching a constituent in the street.

Mr Amesbury, the MP Runcorn and Helsby, lost the Labour whip on Sunday after footage was published appearing to show the politician throwing a punch without any apparent physical provocation during a conversation in the early hours of Saturday morning in Frodsham, Cheshire.

CCTV footage shows the man flying onto the floor of a car park after being hit by Amesbury, who appears to punch him six times, including on the face.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the incident was ‘shocking’ and defended Labour’s decision to suspend him.

The man who appears to have been punched has been named as Paul Fellows, 42.

The dad allegedly got into an argument with the MP near a taxi rank over the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance and an upcoming closure of the Sutton Weaver bridge, MailOnline reports.

A woman, one of the people who intervened at the taxi rank, told the outlet she had a word with Mr Amesbury after the alleged incident while waiting with him until her cab arrived.

The MP allegedly told her that the man ‘wouldn’t leave me alone – what was I supposed to do? Was I not supposed to snap?’

She said: ‘I told him that he was an MP and in the public eye and no matter what was said he couldn’t go around lamping people.

‘Mike was steaming drunk but he had a brief sober moment when he realised what he’d done and he just looked down and said “s****”.

‘He told me that the man had confronted him over something but didn’t want to disclose to me what it was. He just said “he kept going on at me over things I have no control over.”‘

Witnesses claimed that the pair had been drinking in Cheshire pubs but didn’t know each other, according to the outlet.

Mr Amesbury – who is believed to be staying with relatives in Yorkshire – was seen for the first time as he visited a shopping centre today just hours after he was suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.

During a speech in the West Midlands ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, Starmer said: ‘On Mike Amesbury, I’ve seen the video footage, it’s shocking. We moved swiftly to suspend him and suspend him as a member of parliament. There is now a police investigation and in the circumstances, you’ll appreciate there’s not much more I can say about that.’

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden has said video footage is ‘very graphic’.

When asked about the clip, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told Sky News: ‘He’s been suspended by the Labour Party, that also means he’s not a Labour MP at the moment while the police investigation takes place. I’ve seen the video, there is a police investigation, I think it’s important that that runs its course.’

Questioned further about the clip, Mr McFadden added: ‘The video is very graphic, the police will look into that, I’m sure they’ll take it into account and they’ve got to reach their conclusion.’

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 has ‘voluntarily interviewed’ a 55-year-old man in relation to the incident.

‘He has since been released pending further enquiries,’ the force added.

The police said previously 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,’ the force said earlier.

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.’

Metro approached Mike Amesbury for a comment.

The Conservative Party spokesman said the MP has ‘questions to answer about his actions and it is right they are thoroughly investigated.’

Reform UK called for Amesbury to resign so that a by-election could be held in his seat.

Reform, led by Nigel Farage, came second in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency in the general election with 7,662 votes while Amesbury got 22,358.

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