Shocking CCTV footage has emerged that appears to show a Labour MP punch a constituent to the floor and continue to try to strike him on the ground.
The incident involving Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, happened just hours after he attended a local meeting with police and councillors about improving community safety.
Yesterday we reported on a video that showed Mike Amesbury yelling at a man on the ground, saying: “You won’t threaten me again, will you?”
The incident happened at about 2:15am yesterday in the town of Frodsham. A man could be heard in the video saying: The MP of Runcorn, f*****g smacking someone on the floor.”
Mr Amesbury released a statement saying he acted in self-defence after receiving a threat.
Now CCTV of the incident, filmed from a different angle, obtained by the Daily Mail, appears to show Mr Amesbury throwing the first punch.
The clip appears to show Mr Amesbury hitting the man in the head without any physical act from the other man first.
The man then falls to the ground and Mr Amesbury appears to go towards him and appears to hit him or try to hit him about six more times.
Police were already investigating the incident after the MP contacted police to make them aware of it after the first video surfaced on X.
Police also said it was reported to them within half an hour of it happening.
In the original recording, in which no punches were seen, Mr Amesbury was seen leaning over the man and was heard to say, “You won’t threaten me again”, before leaning in closer and adding: “You won’t ever threaten me ever again, will you?”
Mr Amesbury, who has been the MP for the area since 2017, released a statement yesterday saying that he was acting in self-defence after receiving a threat.
He said: “This morning, I contacted Cheshire Police myself to report what happened during this incident. I will not be making further public comment but will, of course, cooperate with any inquiries if required by Cheshire Police.
“I remain fully committed to working hard for the people of Runcorn and Helsby, and am determined to remain an open and accessible MP for our community.”
A spokesperson for the Labour Party said yesterday: “We are aware of an incident that took place last night involving Mike Amesbury MP. We understand that Mr Amesbury approached Cheshire Police to report what happened this morning himself, and that he will cooperate with any inquiries they have.”
In the original clip, Mr Amesbury then goes to leave as a man points out that he is: “The MP Of Runcorn.”
The MP is then seen returning and seemingly confirming he is the MP, adding: “Yes I am, yes I am, and you won’t threaten the MP ever again, will you?” He repeats it a number of times, before leaving.
John Roberts, owner of a taxi company in Main Street, Frodsham, told the Manchester Evening News that the MP had been outside the taxi premises waiting for a taxi when a dispute began.
Mr Roberts said: “The police have called at the office to ask for the CCTV of the incident. It happened at 2.18am today… The police said it was a high-profile investigation”.
Yesterday, a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: “At 2.48am on Saturday 26 October, police were called to reports of an assault in Frodsham. A caller reported he had been assaulted by a man in Main Street. Enquiries are ongoing.”
After the new CCTV emerged we asked the force today if any arrests had been made and it said there was “no update.”
Mr Amesbury had posted on X on Friday images of himself attending a meeting with the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, and local Frodsham Labour councillors in the town to listen to residents’ concerns regarding policing and community safety.
The Labour Party and Mr Amesbury have again been contacted for comment.