Starmer: MP Mike Amesbury altercation footage ‘shocking’

Video footage that appears to amusement MP Mike Amesbury punching a antheral to the crushed is “shocking”, Sir Keir Starmer said arsenic helium defended Labour’s determination to suspend him.

The Prime Minister said the enactment had “moved precise swiftly” to respond aft the footage emerged.

Mr Amesbury was suspended by the enactment and mislaid the Labour whip connected Sunday aft a clip was published by MailOnline successful which the Runcorn and Helsby MP is seemingly seen continuing to deed the antheral lying connected the crushed arsenic radical adjacent outcry “Stop it”.

Sir Keir sidestepped a question astir whether Mr Amesbury should resign arsenic an MP but said: “I person seen the video footage, it’s shocking.

“We moved precise swiftly to suspend him arsenic a subordinate and arsenic a Member of Parliament.

“There is present a constabulary investigation and successful the circumstances you volition admit there’s not overmuch much I tin accidental astir that.”

Cabinet Office curate Pat McFadden declined to beryllium drawn into commenting successful immoderate item connected the lawsuit to debar perchance prejudicing it.

“The video is precise graphic,” helium told Sky News.

“The constabulary volition look into that. I’m definite they volition instrumentality it into account.”

Asked if the enactment could beryllium looking astatine a by-election successful Runcorn and Helsby, helium added: “Well I don’t know.

“Let’s spot what the constabulary say.

“They volition beryllium looking astatine each the evidence. What happened and they volition scope a decision beauteous soon I’m sure.”

Reform came 2nd successful the constituency astatine the wide predetermination with 7,662 votes to Mr Amesbury’s 22,358.

Labour said the Runcorn and Helsby MP had been suspended from the enactment “pending an investigation” into the incident.

It comes aft footage obtained by the Mail Online appeared to amusement Mr Amesbury, 55, repeatedly hitting different antheral arsenic others adjacent outcry “stop it”.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Mike Amesbury MP has been assisting Cheshire Police with their inquiries pursuing an incidental connected Friday night.

“As these inquiries are present ongoing, the Labour Party has administratively suspended Mr Amesbury’s rank of the Labour Party pending an investigation.”

Cheshire Police confirmed a 55-year-old antheral had been voluntarily interviewed nether caution successful narration to the incidental aft officers were called to reports of an onslaught successful Frodsham astatine 2.48am connected Saturday.

“He has since been released pending further inquiries,” the unit said.

CCTV published connected Sunday captured 2 men lasting facing each different earlier the antheral purported to beryllium Mr Amesbury punched the different and continued hitting him connected the ground.

It is not wide from the video what happened successful the moments beforehand.

It comes aft antithetic footage posted connected societal media connected Saturday appeared to amusement the MP shouting and pointing his digit astatine a antheral lying successful the street.

“You won’t ever endanger maine again, volition you? You won’t ever endanger maine again volition you,” helium appeared to say.

Mr Amesbury said helium volition “co-operate with immoderate inquiries” but was “determined to stay an unfastened and accessible MP for our community” aft the archetypal footage circulated online.

He said successful a statement: “Last night, I was progressive successful an incidental that took spot aft I felt threatened connected the thoroughfare pursuing an evening retired with friends.

“This morning, I contacted Cheshire Police myself to study what happened during the incident.

“I volition not beryllium making further nationalist remark but will, of course, co-operate with immoderate inquiries if required by Cheshire Police.”

In July past year, a 56-year-old antheral was convicted of stalking the MP astatine his constituency bureau successful Frodsham, wherever prosecutors said helium was seen staring done the solid and asked guards astir their level of security.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Mike Amesbury has questions to reply astir his actions and it is close they are thoroughly investigated.”