Former Labour MP Mike Amesbury has announced he will step down from Parliament after receiving a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a constituent. Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, told the BBC he will begin the “statutory process” of closing his office and resign “as soon as possible.” His departure will trigger the first by-election of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
Amesbury was handed a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to repeatedly punching Paul Fellows, a constituent, in an incident captured on video. In his first interview since the sentencing, Amesbury expressed deep regret for his actions, stating he thinks about the assault “every moment, every day.”
However, Amesbury revealed he would have attempted to remain in his role as MP had he received a lighter community sentence. “I would have continued to serve my constituents; I was elected just seven or eight months ago,” he said. Under parliamentary rules, an MP receiving a custodial sentence triggers a recall petition. If 10% of constituents vote to remove the MP, a by-election is called.
Amesbury confirmed he would step aside at the “earliest opportunity,” citing the need to follow statutory processes, including office redundancies. He described the fallout from his conviction as “difficult” but said he “owns” his mistake.
Despite not participating in House of Commons debates since the assault video emerged in October 2024, Amesbury defended continuing to collect his MP salary. He claimed he carried out casework for constituents even while briefly imprisoned, stating, “Life doesn’t stop as an MP.”
Amesbury spent three nights in jail before his sentence was suspended by Chester Crown Court. As part of his suspended sentence, he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, undergo alcohol monitoring, attend anger management courses, and participate in 20 days of rehabilitation.
Campaigners had called for Amesbury to be stripped of his wages during his trial and imprisonment. However, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) stated that MPs must be paid unless suspended through a House of Commons disciplinary procedure.
When asked if he believed his sentence was too lenient, Amesbury insisted he had been “punished accordingly.” He highlighted the personal consequences of his actions, including losing his family home, livelihood, and acquiring a criminal record.
The court viewed footage of the assault, which showed Amesbury punching Fellows multiple times and swearing at him. Amesbury claimed he felt threatened by Fellows, though the judge dismissed his explanation as “a pack of lies.” Amesbury maintained that heightened anxiety due to death threats and a stalker contributed to his actions.
Reflecting on the incident, Amesbury admitted, “I just saw red—a moment of madness which I will regret for the rest of my life.” He expressed a desire to apologize to Fellows in person but refrained due to the ongoing legal process.
Fellows, however, told the Mail on Sunday he had not received a personal apology from Amesbury, describing the MP’s actions as “purely for the media and the judge.” He added, “He could have killed me and deserves to be in prison.”
Amesbury’s resignation marks a significant moment for the Labour government, as it prepares for its first by-election.
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