CHESHIRE MP Mike Amesbury has been suspended from the Labour Party.
This comes just hours after CCTV footage emerged appearing to show him punching a man to the ground after a night out in Frodsham in the early hours of Saturday, October 26.
The footage, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows the MP for Runcorn and Helsby lunge toward the man with a left hook to the head before launching repeated follow-up blows while the man is still on the floor.
It also shows three passersby, a man and two women, intervening in the fracas.
Now, a spokesman for Labour has confirmed Mr Amesbury’s membership of the party has been suspended.
While the announcement does not impact Mr Amesbury’s ability to sit as an elected member of parliament, it means from now on he does so as an independent.
A Labour party spokesman 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.”
Posting on Facebook on social media on Saturday, October 26, Mr Amesbury, 55, 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 the incident.
“I will not be making further public comment but will, of course, co-operate 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.”
Mobile phone footage shot in the aftermath of the incident, which has been circulating online since Saturday, show’s Mr Amesbury berating the man as he lies on the floor, saying: “You won’t threaten the MP ever again, will you?”
An onlooker, a male, can be heard in the background repeating: “The MP for gobs**tes.”
It is not yet clear what happened in the run up to the event captured on the films.
Former Conservative MP for Bishop Aukland, Dehenna Davison, whose father died from a single punch, took to social media to call the emerged CCTV footage 'horrendous'.
In a post on X, she said: "The police are investigating and I am sure the full facts will emerge soon.
"I have spent years working with One Punch UK to raise awareness of the dangers a single punch can cause.
"Such violence - whatever the background to the altercation - is never and should never be justified."
Police have confirmed a 55-year-old man was voluntarily interviewed under caution in connection with the incident, and has now been released.
A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “At 2.48am on Saturday, October 26, police were called to reports of an assault in Frodsham.
“A caller reported he had been assaulted by a man in Main Street.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
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