Runcorn and Helsby: What happened with Mike Amesbury and why is there a by-election, who are the candidates

Amesbury, who won the seat in the 2023 general election with a majority of 14,696 over Reform UK, told the BBC: “I’m going to step aside at the earliest opportunity.

“I’ve got processes I must go through, staff for example – there’s a statutory process in terms of redundancies. It’s not only me out of a job, so to speak, although it’s more than a job, it was a calling for me. I’ve loved most of my time being a Member of Parliament.”

What happened to Mike Amesbury?

In January, Amesbury pleaded guilty to assaulting constituent Paul Fellows, 45, in a street in Frodsham, Cheshire, during the early hours of October 26. CCTV footage showed the MP punching Mr Fellows to the head, knocking him down, and then hitting him at least five more times while he was on the road.

Amesbury was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, after spending three nights in HMP Altcourse. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement , an anger management course, and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

He told the BBC: “If people think that’s lightly, so be it. I’ve been punished accordingly. I’m going to lose the family home, my livelihood, and I’ll walk away with a criminal record.”

Amesbury has been sitting as an independent MP since his suspension from Labour following his arrest. He later resigned from the party entirely.

Why is there a by-election?

Members of Parliament cannot directly resign. Instead, they must be appointed to a nominal Crown office, either the Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead, which legally disqualifies them from sitting in the House of Commons and triggers a by-election.

Who are the candidates in Runcorn and Helsby by-election?

Labour has selected Karen Shore, former deputy leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, as its candidate. Reform UK is fielding Sarah Pochin, a former magistrate.

According to the Guardian, two polls have suggested Nigel Farage’s party is on track to overturn Labour’s 14,700 majority in the first electoral test of Keir Starmer’s premiership.