UK Labour lawmaker suspended after apparent punch

28/10/2024 5:58

        A lawmaker from the governing
        Labour Party was suspended from the party on Sunday after he
        appeared to punch a passerby who he said had been threatening
        him after a Friday night out with friends.
        
        Mike Amesbury, 55, was suspended after CCTV footage showed
        him talking to the man, throwing a first punch and repeatedly
        hitting him after he was knocked to the ground.
        
        Another video showed the aftermath of the punch, where he
        could be heard saying "you won't threaten the MP ever again" to
        someone off camera.
        
        A Labour Party spokesperson said Amesbury, the Member of
        Parliament for Runcorn and Helsby in north-west England, was
        assisting police with their inquiries.
        
        "As these inquiries are now ongoing, the Labour Party has
        administratively suspended Mr Amesbury's membership of the
        Labour Party pending an investigation," the spokesperson said.
        
        In a statement on Saturday, before the video of the punch
        emerged, Amesbury said he "felt threatened on the street
        following an evening out with friends," and had contacted the
        police himself to report the incident.
        
        "I will not be making further public comment but will of
        course co-operate with any inquiries if required."
        
        There was no immediate response to a request for fresh
        comment on his suspension on Sunday.