UK MP admits assault, raising prospect of vote test for govt

A lawmaker suspended from Britain's ruling Labour party could face jail after pleading guilty Thursday to punching a man, potentially triggering an election test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

MP Mike Amesbury got into a late-night altercation in the street with a man who complained to him about a bridge closure which ended with the man being knocked to the ground.

Labour suspended Amesbury, 55, after the Mail Online published a video that apparently showed the assault and he now sits in parliament as an independent.

Starmer described the footage as "shocking" and said his party had moved "very swiftly" to suspend the lawmaker.

Amesbury admitted assaulting 45-year-old Paul Fellows in the town of Frodsham, southeast of Liverpool, shortly before 3:00 am (0300 GMT) on October 26.

Judge Tanweer Ikram said Thursday that he was considering punishments ranging from a community order to a prison sentence.

"I have already made mention of the fact whilst there was a single punch to the face, the victim ended up on the floor and he was further attacked again on the floor. That seems to me an additional aggravating factor," he said.

The judge adjourned the case until February 24, telling Amesbury that "I am leaving all options upon at this stage."

Official sentencing guidelines state that those convicted of section 39 assault, such as Amesbury, face a maximum of six months in jail.

If an MP receives a jail sentence of fewer than 12 months, they will not automatically lose their seat.

However, any custodial sentence -- even if suspended -- will trigger a recall petition. A by-election would be called if 10 percent of the electorate in Amesbury's constituency sign it.

A by-election would be a test for Starmer's Labour Party, which swept to power in July but has since slumped in the polls.

Prosecutor Alison Storey told the court that witnesses heard Amesbury saying "you won't threaten your MP again will you" after punching Fellows on the floor.

Court heard that Fellows recognised Amesbury and approached him to protest about a local bridge closure.

"At one point Mr Fellows started to walk away, but was re-engaged by Mr Amesbury," said Storey.

Richard Derby, defending Amesbury, called the assault a "momentary incident".

"Rightly or wrongly, Mr Amesbury interpreted what was being said as no longer a conversation but something to which he thought there was another motive to," he added.

The MP told reporters outside court on Thursday that "I am sincerely sorry to Mr Fellows and his family."

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