Mike Amesbury has stepped down as the UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby after receiving a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a constituent, leading to the first by-election under Keir Starmer’s government.
The Labour politician was suspended from the party and lost the whip in October after footage of the altercation, which took place on a night out, surfaced online. Amesbury was handed a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Speaking to the BBC, Amesbury confirmed he would “step aside at the earliest opportunity.” Labour, anticipating his resignation or the prospect of a recall petition, has already begun preparations for the by-election in the Cheshire constituency, where the party secured a 14,696-vote majority in the last general election.
Candidate nominations opened last week, with the application process closing shortly thereafter. A selection meeting within the constituency is expected to take place on Thursday, according to sources within The Guardian.
Following a challenging start to its tenure, Labour has recently found renewed confidence, bolstered by Starmer’s adept handling of geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning the Ukraine conflict. His diplomatic engagement between European nations and the unpredictable US president, Donald Trump, has strengthened his leadership standing.
The upcoming by-election will serve as a significant test for Reform UK, which has seen a recent surge in national polling. The party has already launched its campaign in the constituency. However, internal strife has plagued Reform in recent days, culminating in the loss of the whip for senior figure Rupert Lowe.
The Conservatives, who trailed Reform by just two percentage points in the July general election, also face a critical test under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch. A poor performance could highlight her struggles to rebuild the party’s support base and lend credibility to Reform’s claims that it is positioning itself as the dominant force on the political right.
Rob Ford, a politics professor at Manchester University, highlighted the potential volatility of the contest. “Labour holds a 35-point majority in Runcorn and Helsby, which might seem substantial, but given the current political climate, nothing is certain. Reform UK finished second here.”
Ford noted that a 17.5-point swing against Labour would see the seat change hands. In the previous parliamentary term, Starmer achieved six swings of over 20 points, yet Labour’s popularity now mirrors the decline once faced by the Conservatives.
“A Labour loss to Reform would deliver a significant blow to morale and fuel internal debates on handling Nigel Farage’s party, particularly with key local and mayoral elections on the horizon,” Ford added.
“A by-election victory for Reform with such a substantial swing would further legitimise Farage’s claim of targeting Labour and demonstrate that Reform can attract former Conservative voters where it presents itself as the primary challenger.”
Labour insiders have warned that the contest will be “exceptionally difficult” for the party. “We have had to make some tough early decisions as part of a long-term strategy,” one source said.
In his first interview since sentencing, Amesbury expressed deep regret for assaulting constituent Paul Fellows, stating he reflects on it “every moment, every day.”
He admitted he would have attempted to remain in office had he received a more lenient community sentence. “I will step aside as soon as possible,” he confirmed, adding that statutory processes, including redundancy procedures, must first be completed.
