Runcorn by-election petition looms despite Mike Amesbury avoiding jail

Voters in Runcorn and Helsby still look set to have their chance to demand a by-election through a recall petition, despite ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury’s sentence being suspended on appeal on Thursday.

The previously-Labour MP had pleaded guilty last month in relation to an altercation with a man in the early hours of October 26.

Judge Tan Ikram said that Amesbury will serve 40% of his sentence and spend the rest of the sentence on license. But this was then overturned at an appeal hearing on Thursday, according to the BBC, with Amesbury’s sentence now fully suspended so he will not face time behind bars.

A hearing took place at Chester Magistrates’ Court this week, with Judge Ikram in his sentencing describing how Amesbury “continued [his] attack while the victim was on the ground”.

READ MORE: Runcorn special report: Could anger at MP and Labour risk by-election loss?

Amesbury had already been suspended by Labour and lost the whip after footage emerged which appeared to show him punching a man, and was later expelled from the party after his guilty plea in January.

Do you have any thoughts on who could stand for Labour in any by-election? Email [email protected], on record or off.

The sentence meant a recall petition would be triggered in Runcorn and Helsby, unless Amesbury chose to appeal.

A recall petition means voters in the MP’s seat have six weeks to sign requesting a by-election; if 10% sign the by-election goes ahead, but if the threshold is not met, the MP can stay in place. All bar one recall petition to date has either seen signatures meet the threshold, or the MP resign first.

If Amesbury resigns, it would also trigger a by-election. At least some local Labour figures are keen for him to stay on, however, and he has not signalled to date that he could quit.

Reform UK has called for Amesbury to quit. The Conservatives are also said to now be preparing for a by-election, with The Times reporting that the party has begun its search for a candidate, while the Liberal Democrats also briefly advertised weeks ago for a candidate.

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