Mike Amesbury ‘made right decision’ in quitting, says Labour MP as Keir Starmer braces for by-election nightmare

Labour MP Melanie Onn has backed Mike Amesbury’s decision to quit as an MP, describing it as “the right decision”.

Speaking on GB News, Onn expressed sympathy for her colleague but supported his departure.

“I’m obviously very sad for Mike personally, but I think it’s the right decision,” she said.

Onn emphasised the need for swift action following Amesbury’s announcement.

“We need to get this by-election underway quickly and get back to the job and focus of being in Government,” she added.

Amesbury’s resignation triggers Sir Keir Starmer’s first by-election challenge as prime minister.

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Amesbury announced his intention to step down in an interview with the BBC.

“I’m going to step aside at the earliest opportunity,” he said.

The suspended Labour MP confirmed he would leave parliament “as quickly as possible”.

He noted there were procedures to follow before his departure could be finalised.

“I’ve got processes I must go through – there’s a statutory process in terms of redundancies,” Amesbury explained.

The MP was last month given a 10-week suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assault.

He had drunkenly punched a 45-year-old constituent, Paul Fellows, in the street.

Amesbury spent three nights in jail after pleading guilty to the assault earlier this year.

He was later released after successfully appealing the sentence.

In his BBC interview, Amesbury defended continuing to take his MP salary while incarcerated.

“I actually picked up some casework in prison,” he claimed.

He added that his office manager had forwarded “correspondence” to him.

“Life doesn’t stop as an MP,” Amesbury said.

The incident has cast a shadow over his parliamentary career, ultimately leading to his decision to resign from his position.

The by-election in Runcorn and Helsby presents a significant challenge for Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

Labour’s poll ratings have plunged amid what have been described as “difficult decisions” since the general election.

The north west constituency is expected to be heavily targeted by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Pollsters are already suggesting the seat could be “the insurgent right-wing party’s to lose”.

Reform UK has surged in popularity since the general election.

However, Labour may find some relief in the timing of the contest.

Reform is currently experiencing internal turmoil, with Rupert Lowe, one of its five MPs, having been suspended amid “a damaging bout of infighting”.