Cheshire (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury sentenced to 10 weeks after admitting to assault during a night out, raising concerns over a byelection in his constituency.
Mike Amesbury, MP for Runcorn and Helsby, sacked by the Labour Party, received a 10-week jail term for punching a man in a street dispute and taunting him, “You won’t threaten your MP again, will you?”
Why was MP Mike Amesbury sentenced to 10 weeks in jail?
After an investigation led to his suspension, Amesbury confessed last month in court to a section 39 assault over an incident during a night out in his constituency.
Police officials interviewed the 55-year-old following MailOnline’s publication of CCTV footage of the attack on Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, on 26 October 2024.
A CCTV recording revealed Amesbury punching Paul Fellows in the face, knocking him to the ground.
What happened in court during Amesbury’s case hearing?
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram sentenced Amesbury, ordering him to serve 40% of his term behind bars and the rest on licence.
The courtroom reacted with surprise when Amesbury’s lawyer, Richard Derby, asked if the sentence was immediate. The judge stated, “Yes,” and walked out.
The judge Mr Ikram said,
“In this case, an immediate custodial sentence is, in my judgment, necessary as a punishment and a deterrent.”
To secure bail for Amesbury, Richard Derby urged the judge to return to the courtroom and consider the request during the appeal process. Mr. Ikram re-entered the court, took his seat, considered the request, and firmly stated, “Application refused.”
After admitting guilt, Amesbury addressed the media outside the court, stating, “I’m deeply sorry to Mr. Fellows and his family.”
What did Alison Storey say about Mike Amesbury’s assault?
Alison Storey, a senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, described the attack as
“a persistent assault by Mike Amesbury which continued while the victim was on the floor, offering no aggression.”
He stated,
“The victim was alone and not part of a group and CCTV footage showed that he was not being threatening or aggressive towards Mike Amesbury,”
Adding,
“After the initial punch which knocked the victim to the ground, Mike Amesbury struck the victim at least a further five times while he was on the floor.”
Mr Storey said,
“The CPS will always seek to prosecute violent offences in accordance with our legal test regardless of who the perpetrator is.”
What did Reform UK Chairman say about Mike Amesbury’s conviction?
Reform UK Chairman, Zia Yusuf stated,
“Today Mike Amesbury has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison. The great people of Runcorn deserve far better than waiting six weeks for a recall petition to take place.”
He added,
“We call on Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held.”
What challenges will Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, and Kemi Badenoch face after Mike Amesbury’s jailing?
If Amesbury resigns, a byelection will be held. His sentence allows him to serve as an independent MP during appeal. If his appeal is rejected, a recall petition would start.
It was also believed the campaigners could begin organizing a recall petition for re-election in his constituency if Amesbury does not resign. These petitions usually reach the required 10% voter support for a byelection.
The first byelection of the current parliament would be a major challenge for Labour, which secured the seat with a 14,696 majority last summer, for Reform UK, which finished second with 18% of the votes compared to Labour’s 53%, and for the Tories, who polled at 16%.
Why did the police stop the former Reform UK leader at the airport?
Nathan Gill, during his tenure as an MEP, allegedly accepted payments to promote Russia’s narrative on Ukraine, a court heard.
The police intercepted him at Manchester airport on 13 September 2021 after he had been assigned the task of making particular remarks on Ukraine at least eight times, both in the European Parliament and to the press.