Hannah Miller, a Political correspondent, reported that former Labour MP Mike Amesbury announced his plans to resign from parliament following a prison sentence for assaulting a constituent. Amesbury, representing Runcorn and Helsby, disclosed to the BBC his intention to initiate the process of winding up his office before stepping down as an MP at the earliest opportunity. The ensuing resignation would spark the first by-election under Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
Receiving a 10-week suspended prison term for admitting to assaulting Paul Fellows, Amesbury expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging his regret for the incident with Mr. Fellows. Reflecting on his situation, Amesbury shared that he would have sought to continue serving as an MP if a less severe community sentence had been imposed. Under the parliamentary regulations governing the case, an “recall petition” would be activated following an MP’s custodial sentence, potentially leading to a by-election if 10% of constituents expressed the desire to remove Amesbury from office.
Addressing queries on his future plans, Amesbury mentioned his upcoming resignation while emphasizing the statutory procedures that must be followed in light of the circumstances. Despite facing challenges due to the fallout from the court case, Amesbury acknowledged his mistake and took ownership of his actions. Amesbury also defended his decision to continue receiving his MP salary, underscoring that he remained engaged in assisting constituents with casework even during his time behind bars.
Video evidence presented in court depicted the assault by Amesbury on Mr. Fellows, followed by subsequent interactions that led to a physical altercation. Amesbury defended his actions by stating that he felt threatened in the encounter, expressing regret over the incident and acknowledging the impact of threats and abuse on his anxiety levels. The unfolding legal process prevented him from addressing Mr. Fellows directly, with Amesbury expressing a desire to offer a personal apology once the proceedings concluded. The report did not indicate Mr. Fellows’ response to the incident when contacted by the BBC
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