Mike Amesbury Resigns as MP After Assault Scandal

Mike Amesbury has announced his resignation as the MP for Runcorn and Helsby following a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a constituent. The former Labour MP, who pleaded guilty to punching Paul Fellows during a drunken altercation, expressed his sadness and devastation for the impact of his actions on his family and staff. Amesbury, who has been serving as an independent MP since his suspension, will now trigger a by-election that will serve as a test for Labour's popularity. He has been ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, attend anger management sessions, and wear an alcohol monitoring tag for 120 days as part of his sentence. Reflecting on the incident, Amesbury admitted he should have walked away and acknowledged that he had been struggling with personal issues, including anxiety and binge drinking. His resignation is seen as a significant moment for the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer as they prepare for the upcoming by-election.