07 November 2024 , 16:27
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Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been charged with assault after a video appeared to show him ‘punching’ one of his constituents in Cheshire.
The 55-year-old, who has been the MP for Runcorn and Helsby since 2017, lost the Labour whip the day after footage emerged in the press.
He is due to appear in front of magistrates at a later date.
Amesbury said the incident was ‘deeply regrettable’, and he was ‘continuing to co-operate with police’ ahead of his appearance in court.
Officers were called to reports of an assault on a 45-year-old man on Main Street in the town of Frodsham at around 2.50am on October 26.
Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said the charge of common assault had been authorised after a review of evidence provided by the police.
She said: ‘The charge follows an alleged assault in Frodsham, Cheshire, on Saturday, 26 October 2024.
‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
In a statement, the suspended Labour MP said: ‘I have today been summonsed to court to face a charge of common assault following an incident in Frodsham last month, which was deeply regrettable.
‘I am continuing to cooperate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.’
Cheshire Police said: ‘Mike Amesbury MP, of Frodsham, Cheshire, has been summonsed to court to face the charge of section 39 assault.
‘The 55-year-old is set to appear in magistrates court at a later date.
‘The charge relates to reports of an assault on a 45-year-old man on Main Street, Frodsham, which was reported to police at 2.48am on Saturday 26 October.’
A Labour spokesperson previously 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.’