Labour Party suspends MP Mike Amesbury after video showed him punching man in street

Mike Amesbury has been suspended by the Labour Party after CCTV footage showed him punching a man in the street.

Click here for the latest on this story

A Labour Party spokesperson 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."

A new video, obtained by MailOnline on Sunday afternoon, showed the MP for Runcorn and Helsby punching a man, who fell to the floor, before then hitting him repeatedly.

Three members of the public could then be seen walking over towards the two men and intervening.

A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: "A 55-year-old man has been voluntarily interviewed under caution by police in relation to this incident. He has since been released pending further enquiries."

"Mike Amesbury has questions to answer about his actions and it is right they are thoroughly investigated," a Tory party spokesperson said.

It came after earlier footage, which circulated on social media on Saturday, showed Mr Amesbury shouting at a man, who was lying on the floor, saying, "you won't ever threaten me again".

Mr Amesbury pointed at the man and added: "Yes I am [the MP], yes I am, and you won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?"

In a statement on Saturday, the MP said he felt "threatened on the street following an evening out with friends" - and added he "contacted Cheshire Police myself to report what happened during this incident".

"I will not be making further public comment but will, of course, cooperate with any inquiries if required by Cheshire Police," he added.

The force earlier said officers were called at 2.48am on Saturday to reports of an assault in Main Street, Frodsham.

More from Sky News:
Man charged after baby's death in car crash
Chancellor makes £1.4bn pledge for schools

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden told Sky News the footage is "very graphic" when asked if he was appalled by the video.

"He's been suspended by the Labour Party, that also means he's not a Labour MP at the moment while the police investigation takes place," Mr McFadden said.

"I've seen the video, there is a police investigation, I think it's important that that runs its course."

Before the video came to light, the Labour Party had said it was aware of the incident and that Mr Amesbury, who has been an MP since 2017, will "cooperate with any inquiries" the police have.

Asked whether Labour was investigating, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: "Mike Amesbury... has gone forward to the police.

"He is co-operating with any investigation they would want to take forward," she continued. "It is a matter for the police and we want to allow them to do that work."

In July last year, a 56-year-old man was convicted of stalking Mr Amesbury at his constituency office in Frodsham, where prosecutors said he was seen staring through the glass and asked guards about their level of security.

Sky News has approached Mr Amesbury for comment.