MP officially steps down after being convicted of punching constituent

Mike Amesbury has officially stepped down as an MP today after he was convicted of punching a man in the street.

Amesbury, who was suspended from the Labour Party, was jailed on 24 February for 10 weeks after he pleaded guilty to assault by beating of 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of 26 October.

However, following an appeal, his sentence was suspended for two years, so he does not have to serve it in prison.

"I have today tendered my resignation as Member of Parliament for Runcorn & Helsby constituency," he said in a social media post.

"I have notified Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves of my decision to step down following a deeply regrettable incident for which I have rightly been punished by the courts.

"I made a serious mistake. All I can say is I am sincerely sorry to Paul Fellows, my family, colleagues and constituents.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my political journey. I wish it didn't have to end this way but I have nobody to blame but myself."

A by-election will now be triggered in his seat of Runcorn and Helsby, where constituents will vote to elect a new MP.

Reform UK started targeting the seat even before Amesbury was sentenced and remains the bookies' favourite, with Labour coming in second.

Labour has announced that Karen Shore will be the party's candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, while the Conservatives have opted for Sean Houlston, membership services manager for the National Federation of Builders.