UK MP Mike Amesbury charged with assault

UK MP Mike Amesbury charged with assault

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The MP Mike Amesbury has been charged with assault after CCTV footage showed a late-night altercation on a street in north-west England.

Police said on Thursday that the 55-year-old, who was suspended from the Labour party after the incident in Frodsham, Cheshire, last month, had been summoned to court.

Video footage appeared to show the MP for Runcorn and Helsby punching a man to the ground.

Prosecutors said they had brought a charge of common assault against the politician following a review of evidence presented by police.

Amesbury confirmed in a statement that he had been told to appear in court. He said the incident was “deeply regrettable” and added: “I am continuing to co-operate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.”

Amesbury was first elected to parliament in 2017 and held his constituency with a majority of 14,696 at the general election in July. He was previously a shadow minister.

He now sits as an independent MP after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer approved the suspension of the party whip from him.

Cheshire Police said an alleged attack on a 45-year-old man had been reported to officers at 2.48am on October 26.

The force said Amesbury would appear before magistrates to face a charge of section 39 assault. The venue and date of his first appearance have yet to be confirmed.

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, warned the public to avoid “reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings”.

She said in a statement that the criminal proceedings were “active” and that Amesbury “has the right to a fair trial”.