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Labour is facing calls for a by-election after it suspended an MP who was filmed on CCTV punching a member of the public to the ground.
The party today announced Mike Amesbury, Mp for Runcorn and Helsby, has been suspended over an altercation with a man in the early hours of Saturday.
It comes as Cheshire Police confirmed it had interviewed a 55-year-old man under caution in connection with the alleged assault, before he was released pending further enquiries.
A force spokesperson said: “in relation to reports of an assault in Main Street, Frodsham, which was reported at 2.48am on Saturday 26 October, a 55-year-old man has been voluntarily interviewed under caution by police in relation to this incident. He has since been released pending further enquiries.”
He has also had the whip withdrawn, after the party initially appeared to stand by him when he said he had acted in self defence after facing a threat.
But, CCTV footage today obtained by the Daily Mail appeared to call this into question, as he was seen to throw the first punch, and then continue an attack on the man as he lay on the ground.
A Labour Party spokesperson 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.”
This has the automatic effect of suspending the Labour whip in the House of Commons.
The party said it would not be commenting further.
Before the announcement of the suspension, Reform UK had called on Mr Amesbury to resign.
A Reform UK Spokesman said: “The new footage of Mike Amesbury MP is damning. No matter what verbal exchanges happened before, it’s never acceptable for anyone to resort to violence to solve a dispute, let alone a sitting Member of Parliament.
“It’s quite clear that the people of Runcorn and Helsby deserve far better than this.
“Reform UK are today calling for Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held.”
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