Jailed MP faces calls to immediately quit Commons

Disgraced Cheshire MP Mike Amesbury is facing calls to quit the House of Commons after being jailed for 10 weeks for repeatedly punching a man in the street.
The Runcorn and Helsby HP, who has been sitting as an Independent since he was suspended by Labour bosses following Octoberâs fracas, admitted assault and was sentenced on Monday.
A Labour spokesperson said: âLocal residents deserved better and we look forward to them getting the representation they deserve in the future with a new Labour MP.â
Conservative co-chairman Nigel Huddleston called on Amesbury to âdo the right thing and resignâ, adding that constituents âdeserve an MP who is able to stand up for them in Parliamentâ.
âRecall processâ
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf also called on the 55-year-old MP to quit immediately, adding: âThe great people of Runcorn deserve far better than waiting six weeks for a recall petition to take place.â
At an earlier court hearing, Amesbury pleaded guilty to assaulting 45-year-old Paul Fellows.
Video footage widely shared on social media showed a confrontation in the Cheshire town of Frodsham in the early hours of 26 October.
Sitting at Chester Magistratesâ Court, Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram said a pre-sentence report showed Amesburyâs actions were the result of âanger and loss of emotional controlâ.
âCompletely unacceptable actionsâ
Under Parliamentary rules, a Westminster by-election can be forced if 10% of registered voters in a jailed MPâs constituency sign a petition calling for one.
The recall process can only be triggered once all avenues of appeal against a custodial sentence have been exhausted.
Amesbury won the newly formed seat of Runcorn and Helsby in Julyâs general election, with a majority of more than 14,000 over Reform UK.
He was first elected as MP for Weaver Vale in 2017 and represented the Cheshire constituency before it ceased to exist following last yearâs boundary changes.
The Labour spokesperson said: âThe Labour Party took swift action following Mike Amesburyâs completely unacceptable actions and he is no longer a Labour MP or a member of the Labour Party.
âIt is right that Mr Amesbury pleaded guilty and has now been sentenced.â
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