Labour MP Mike Amesbury Faces Backlash for Staying in Post Despite Assault Conviction
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has urged for a new parliamentary representative for Runcorn following the imprisonment of Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who remains in his position while still receiving his £91,000 salary.
Amesbury, who has served as an MP since 2017, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a man during a night out in Cheshire last October. Despite this, parliamentary rules allow him to retain his position unless a recall petition is triggered after the appeal process.
Speaking on Sky News, Cooper stated that the people of Runcorn deserve better representation and emphasised the need for a new election. Conservative shadow minister Victoria Atkins echoed public frustration, criticising the fact that an MP can continue receiving their salary from prison.
Amesbury, suspended by Labour following the incident, has been sitting as an independent since. While he has apologised for his actions, calls for his resignation continue to grow across political parties.
