‘My father died instantly from a single punch – video of Labour MP’s attack is horrendous’.l
EXCLUSIVE: A former Tory MP said it’s a “very sorry state of affairs” if a politician can’t settle disagreements without violence.
Mike Amesbury in the first video on the incident that emerged online (left) and Dehenna Davison (right) (Image: X)
A former Tory MP whose father was killed by a single punch has spoken of her shock at video footage which appears to show a Labour MP floor a member of the public.
Cheshire Police is investigating after two videos surfaced of Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, in an altercation with a man.
In mobile phone footage posted on X yesterday, Mr Amesbury was seen leaning over a man on the ground shouting: “You won’t threaten me again, will you?”
The incident happened at about 2.15am at a taxi rank in Frodsham. Onlookers appeared to be aware he was the local MP.
Today, the Daily Mail released CCTV footage from a different angle in which the MP appears to punch the man to the ground, before going over and trying to hit him more times and bystanders intervene.
On Saturday, after t he emergence of the first video, Mr Amesbury released a statement saying he was under threat and acted in self-defence, while the Labour Party said he was cooperating with police, who confirmed they were investigating an alleged assault.
On Sunday, the Labour Party announced the suspension of Mr Amesbury’s membership of the party pending an investigation.
Dehenna Davison, who was the Tory MP for Bishop Aukland until May this year, told Express.co.uk Labour did the right thing.
She said: “It’s absolutely right that the Labour Party suspended him pending the outcome of the investigation and I believe if anything this should have been done sooner. His is not the example any MP should be setting to their community.”
Mike Amesbury is the MP for Runcorn and Helsby (Image: Getty)
Ms Davison is also a “one punch assault campaigner” after her father Dominic was killed instantly by such an attack 16 years ago, aged 35, when she was a teenager.
His attacker, who had a violent past, was acquitted of manslaughter in connection with the death.
She continued: “The police investigation is ongoing so it is important not to jump to firm conclusions until that has been completed.” She also said: “There is no place for violence in society. Even a single punch can cause devastation, as my own family experienced, and as countless others I have met through my campaigning have experienced.
“MPs should always strive to set a good example to their community. If, of all people, a politician cannot use his words to settle disagreements and has to resort to violence, that’s a very sorry state of affairs.”
Ms Davison also shared her thoughts on X, where on Sunday she said she had seen the “horrendous” footage of Mr Amesbury.
She added: “I have spent years working with One Punch to raise awareness of the dangers a single punch can cause.
“A split-second decision can end and ruin lives. Such violence, whatever the background to the altercation, is never and should never be justified.”
Mr Amesbury has now been suspended by the Labour Party, with the whip removed, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Cheshire Police confirmed it had interviewed a 55-year-old man, who attended voluntarily, under caution, before he was released pending further enquiries.
