Mike Amesbury: Labor MP suspended after video shows him allegedly punching man in street

CNN
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The British legislator was suspended the ruling Labor Party after footage emerged showing him repeatedly punching a man in the street.

Police are investigating the alleged assault of Mike Amesbury on Friday night, which came to light after footage of a fight in the street following the alleged attack was recorded on social media.

Further recordings of surveillance cameras, obtained by the Daily Mail newspaper and published Sunday, Amesbury is seen talking to the man before punching him in the face and then attempting to slam him to the ground again.

Labor said Amesbury was helping police with their inquiries and that they had suspended the backbencher “pending an investigation”.

Amesbury has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2017 for Cheshire in north-west England, where the alleged incident took place. He remains an independent member of the House of Commons after losing the party whip.

The lawmaker said in a statement released before the additional footage was published by the Mail that he was “involved in an incident which occurred after I felt threatened in the street after a night out with friends”.

He said he “contacted Cheshire Police himself to report what had happened during the incident”.

Cheshire Police said: “A 55-year-old man has been voluntarily questioned by police in connection with this incident. He has since been released pending further investigations.”

Labor came to power in July’s general election after 14 years in opposition, winning 411 seats and an overwhelming majority. Since then, nine of these deputies have been stripped of their powers or left the party.

The populist Reform UK party has called on Amesbury to step down and allow a by-election to replace him, which, if held, would be the first electoral test of the new government.

MPs have the right to remain in the House of Commons after losing the whip. A recall petition in their constituency, which could trigger a by-election, could happen if they receive a prison sentence.