LABOUR MP Mike Amesbury was arguing with a constituent about the temporary closure of a local bridge, a witness has claimed.
The politician, 55, was caught on camera flooring an unidentified man with a left hook in the early hours of Saturday.
Mr Amesbury appeared to throw several punches[/caption]
Paul Fellows is claimed to be the constituent who was punched in the bust up[/caption]
Amesbury has since been suspended and quizzed by cops, as pressure grows for him to stand down – and he’s been warned he faces prison.
The man he punched has since been identified as Paul Fellows, 42, according to MailOnline.
Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn & Helsby in Cheshire, was involved in the incident in Frodsham, Cheshire, within his own Runcorn and Helsby constituency.
Now, a witness has said that the men had been discussing plans to close a nearby bridge for 33 days between January and March for engineering works, reports The Times.
The source said the conversation, which is said to have touched on the winter fuel allowance, had grown “heated” on both sides, but they claimed there had been no physical provocation until the punch.
Amesbury had previously described the closure of the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, which carries the A56 over the River Weaver Navigation, as “unacceptable”.
There has been disagreement over proposals to increase toll charges on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges, which connect Widnes with Runcorn over the River Mersey, by 40p.
Amesbury released a statement prior to the damning CCTV evidence emerging saying he had “felt threatened” during the 2.15am altercation.
Sir Keir Starmer said the incident was “shocking” and defended Labour’s decision.
However, pal and former Labour adviser Matthew Torbitt claims the former member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet was subjected to a “lengthy wind up”.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said today Amesbury should not be an MP following the brawl.
