logo
Beating a path to the Job Centre: brawling former Shadow employment minister Mike Amesbury who sucker-punched a constituent

Beating a path to the Job Centre: brawling former Shadow employment minister Mike Amesbury who sucker-punched a constituent

Daily Mail​14-06-2025
Queuing up at the Job Centre must come as something of a blow if you're a former Shadow employment minister.
But with his political career in tatters after he was convicted of drunkenly assaulting a constituent, this is the reality for axed MP Mike Amesbury, 56 – who now has little choice but to roll with the punches himself.
The disgraced one-time Labour politician was seen looking rather forlorn in Runcorn, Cheshire, as he attempted to find work after completing 200 hours of community service in lieu of jail time for his crime.
Amesbury was clearly keen to make a good impression for his appointment, and was dressed smartly in a grey suit, with black shoes and polo shirt.
The former MP will certainly have a lot of time on his hands these days.
Last week, he posted his CV to networking site LinkedIn, saying he was 'looking for work' and urging his contacts to 'reconnect' – but with a conviction for violence, he may find the search more challenging than most.
In shocking scenes, the Runcorn and Helsby MP punched Paul Fellows to the ground in Frodsham, Cheshire, last October after the constituent had confronted him about a local bridge closure.
The father-of-one continued to punch the 45-year-old quantity surveyor as he lay on the ground and shouted: 'You won't threaten the MP again, will you, you f****** soft lad.'
Amesbury was clearly keen to make a good impression for his appointment, and was dressed smartly in a grey suit, with black shoes and polo shirt
After pleading guilty to common assault, and accepting that Mr Fellows had not physically provoked him, he spent three nights in prison in March before successfully appealing the sentence. His punishment was downgraded to a suspended sentence and community service.
His punishment was downgraded to a suspended sentence and community service.
He was later seen in a hi-vis jacket helping to renovate a visitor centre on the River Weaver.
But now, with that behind him, he will be looking for a new way to stay out of trouble.
One that, presumably, doesn't involve him using his hands.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Abergavenny councillor cleared of harassing teenager at trial
Abergavenny councillor cleared of harassing teenager at trial

BBC News

time11 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Abergavenny councillor cleared of harassing teenager at trial

A councillor has been cleared of harassment but admonished over a relationship with a teenage girl, a court has Edridge, who was elected as a Labour councillor for Abergavenny in 2022, was accused of sending unwanted messages via email and social media to the girl he described as his "little sister", and who he first met when she was a three hour trial at Newport Magistrates' Court, a judge said there had been a lack of evidence and returned a not guilty verdict to the one charge of harassment without addressing 28-year-old Mr Eldridge, Judge Sophie Toms warned him his messages to a younger girl while he was "well into his 20s", were "inappropriate". Judge Toms said she listened to about 12 minutes of voice notes the councillor sent the girl in March 2024, when she was 17, after she had ended their friendship, and called them "manipulative".In one message, the Abergavenny town councillor said he had been "heartbroken" over their friendship ending and thinking about it while meeting Labour MPs and had to cry at a conference of school Robert Reid told the court the girl, who cannot be named due to her age, said Mr Eldridge intended making a report to social services that she had been raped by a friend of said she did not understand why he had made the allegation and said she did not know the male, who had been accused, particularly well. Mr Eldridge told the trial he had become "confused" over their friendship after what he described as a "malicious joke" played by the girl. He said due to his autism and obsessive compulsive disorder he had taken the joke "literally", and felt he should report as a "safeguarding" concern. Giving evidence, Mr Eldridge denied making a report to social services but said he had taken advice on a "safeguarding concern". He said he had been concerned the girl had been taken to a pub by men, aged 29 and 32, at the voice note sent to the girl, after she had unblocked him on Instagram to send a message to say she did not want to continue their friendship, but would not ignore him if she saw him in public, Mr Eldridge said he was "really sorry" to receive the the recording, played in court, Mr Eldridge said: "I'm genuinely brokenhearted and I can't express how much I'm sorry for the deep emotional trauma I put you through."He added: "In church I light a candle for you and when I was at a conference for school governors from all over Wales I took five minutes and burst into tears. "Tonight at a meeting with Labour Party members and MPs I just wanted to go to the toilets and have a big cry." The judge said a handwritten note left for the teenager at her workplace, as well as incidents when he had approached her at work and when she was with friends, were not reflected in the charge, which referenced Instagram messages, voice notes and complained she was "missing all of the evidence" of contact between Mr Eldridge and the girl before January last year and there was no evidence from the complainant's mother who had also been mentioned by the prosecution and Mr Eldridge in his delivering her verdict, Judge Toms stated she had considered a psychological report, which said Mr Eldridge should be considered as having a disability, and had taken his characteristics into she said she could not be sure he would know his conduct in leaving "one extremely rambling voice message" and another message, the girl had not listened, to amount to said she believed the unwanted contact "could have been resolved by the way of a Police Information Notice" but said she understood Gwent Police no longer issue the notices which inform someone a named individual no longer wished to be contacted by them. A prosecution request for a non-conviction restraining order, to prevent further contact, was also rejected by Judge Toms who said Mr Eldridge had not contacted the girl since April defence solicitor, Derek Gooden, said police had warned him against contact, when he was arrested in September last year, adding: "He has seen her but he now crosses the road."Judge Toms said: "That must continue unless Mr Eldridge wishes to find himself before the court."Mr Eldridge was elected as a Labour member of Abergavenny Town Council, for the Park Ward, at the 2022 local elections but has sat as an independent since being suspended from the Labour group.

What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?
What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?

The Independent

time40 minutes ago

  • The Independent

What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?

Sir Keir Starmer has issued an ultimatum to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning he will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless a series of conditions are met. The prime minister 's decision comes after mounting pressure from his backbench MPs, and even cabinet ministers, to recognise Palestine as a state. Sir Keir held an emergency meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday to condemn the 'increasingly intolerable situation' in Gaza and discuss a UK-led peace plan for the region which David Lammy presented to allies in New York. But the PM went further, updating Labour's position on the recognition of a Palestinian state. The Independent looks at what the change of stance means, and what conditions Sir Keir has set out ahead of recognition. What does it mean? Recognition of a Palestinian state is a largely symbolic move given the situation on the ground in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Montevideo Convention of 1933 established several criteria which must apply before an entity can be recognised as a sovereign state. These are a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government and the ability to conduct international relations. But the process would offer tangible benefits to the Palestinians. It involves the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, including the opening of embassies, the exchange of ambassadors, and the signing of bilateral treaties. Recognition also grants the recognised state access to certain rights in international organisations. For Palestinians, such recognition would strengthen their claim to sovereignty and facilitate greater international support. Added to that, the UK recognising a Palestinian state has a special significance because it was Britain which in effect created the modern state of Israel with the Balfour Declaration in 1926, signed by then Foreign Secretary Sir Arthur Balfour. Britain also brings extra influence as the former colonial power and current member of the UN Security Council. Who else has recognised Palestine? France has committed to recognising a Palestinian state in September, when Sir Keir's own promise to do so will take effect if Israel ignores his demands. Emmanuel Macron 's promise put his country on course to be the first in the G7 to recognise Palestine. But already 144 of the 193 UN member states, including Spain, Norway, Ireland, India, Russia and China recognise it as a state. Critics have argued that recognition has not helped resolve the problems on the ground or brought peace. They also note that Palestine does not fulfil the criteria of a state with a permanent population, a defined territory, a stable government, and the ability to enter into relations with other states. What has Keir Starmer called for? Sir Keir has set a series of conditions for the Israeli prime minister, warning that if they are not met, Britain will recognise Palestine alongside France at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in September. The first is for the Israeli government to take 'substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza', which is seeing thousands of Palestinians starving as aid is unable to get into the strip. The second is for Mr Netanyahu to promise no annexation in the West Bank. And the third is a commitment to a long-term peace process that will deliver a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The prime minister has also said the UK and its allies need to see "at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day" to deliver aid. Notably, Mr Netanyahu and right-wing elements of his government have abandoned the promise of a two-state solution and pushed for a one-state solution. Sir Keir also called for Hamas to release remaining hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm themselves and rule themselves out of government in Gaza. But there are concerns that he has not linked Palestinian state recognition to his demands of Hamas. Is either side likely to agree? In short, no. The prime minister's ultimatum is likely to be largely ignored by Mr Netanyahu, leaving recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain looking almost inevitable. Hamas is also unlikely to agree to the prime minister's conditions and will continue to hold on to its hostages. There is a danger that while US president Donald Trump in effect said he would accept the UK recognising a Palestinian state, his US State Department is strongly opposed to the move and it could damage the special relationship. The prime minister promised an assessment of how far both sides have progressed towards meeting his tests before UNGA. But the news about Britain's plans now looks set to dominate the conference.

In pictures: Donald Trump's visit to Scotland
In pictures: Donald Trump's visit to Scotland

STV News

time40 minutes ago

  • STV News

In pictures: Donald Trump's visit to Scotland

Donald Trump has left Scotland after a five-day private visit during which he played golf and met with political leaders. The US President was greeted by large crowds as he landed at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, Trump was surrounded by a major security operation as he teed off at his South Ayrshire golf course. Snipers were perched on sand dunes and vantage points around Turnberry throughout the weekend. Getty Images Police snipers are seen on the roof of the Trump Turnberry. Getty Images The Republican leader spent Saturday playing golf at Turnberry during his visit, which has been described as a working holiday. He also played a round on his brand new 18-hole golf course in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday after he cut the ribbon during an opening ceremony. Getty Images Donald Trump tees off at a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on July 29. Getty Images Trump met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday to discuss progress on the UK-US trade deal, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East, and applying pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. The pair took questions during a lengthy press conference in a ballroom at Turnberry before they travelled to Trump's second golf resort in Aberdeenshire. Getty Images President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Trump International Golf Links on July 28. Getty Images Trump's visit has also been marked by protests and arrests across the country. A 'festival of resistance' was held near his Aberdeenshire golf course on Monday afternoon, and hundreds of protesters gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen on Saturday to voice their opposition to Trump's visit. Getty Images Demonstrators gather in Aberdeen protesting against the visit of President Trump to Scotland on July 26. Getty Images On Tuesday, Trump's fifth and final day in Scotland, he cut the ribbon and teed off in celebration of the New Course at Trump International Golf Links on the Menie Estate. Later, Trump returned to Washington on Air Force One. Getty Images President Donald Trump cuts the ribbon at the ceremony at a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on July 29. Getty Images Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store