Former MP Mike Amesbury describes the aftermath of punchgate as feeling like “being buried alive” amidst disappointing Labour local election results

Mike Amesbury, a former Labour MP who was disgraced due to his conviction for assaulting a man in the street, confessed to feeling utterly defeated by the repercussions of his actions, likening it to being ‘buried alive’.

Amesbury stepped down as MP for Runcorn and Helsby on March 17, weeks after admitting to drunkenly assaulting a constituent.

Following his guilty plea for the assault of a 45-year-old man named Paul Fellows in Frodsham, Cheshire, Amesbury, aged 55, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison on February 24.

Shocking CCTV of the attack, which showed Amesbury launching a sickening attack on his constituent, was first obtained by the Mail.

Amesbury later appealed the sentence which was suspended for two years, meaning he will not have to serve it in prison. 

His decision to step down as an MP in March prompted a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, which was narrowly won by Reform UK with a margin of just six votes, marking a significant loss for the Labour party following a tense recount.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today, Amesbury said: ‘I am really disappointed, obviously it has been a difficult few months myself. It has been like being buried alive. I am in a position through my own fault, my own mistakes.’

Asked if he felt guilty about the Reform’s successful local election results, he added: ‘The constituents of Durham, or up and down the country, didn’t vote how they did because of my mistake.

Amesbury stepped down as MP for Runcorn and Helsby on March 17, weeks after being convicted for punching a constituent

The 55-year-old was filmed on CCTV punching constituent Paul Fellows after the pair had a heated discussion by a taxi rank at 2am in Amesbury’s home town of Frodsham, Cheshire

‘I live that moment every day of my life and of course I regret that and if I could turn back the clock and change things in that evening and done the right things and walked away. But I didn’t, so I have paid a price and I learn from those mistakes.

‘Politically I want this government to succeed but if they carry on making political mistakes, winter fuel being an obvious one, but coming down the line is the Personal Independence Payments.

‘People on the backbenches now is the time to say you are not being disloyal, telling the leadership just think again if we are serious about having two terms of this Labour government and transforming this country for the better. 

‘We have got to listen the the electorate and do the right thing.’

Amesbury said that he was not ‘surprised’ by the Runcorn result was ‘reflected unfortunately throughout the country’.

He added: ‘Reform have been the beneficiaries of some big political mistakes from the Labour Government and I sincerely hope Keir, the Labour Prime Minister, and the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, not only listen, but learn and respond.

After Amesbury successfully appealed his 10-week jail sentence – and before he stepped down as an MP – his victim Mr Fellows told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s outrageous. If it was anyone else, you or I, we would have lost our jobs, no question.’ 

‘I was surprised by the quickness of the appeal. I feel a charge of affray should have been brought rather than common assault, which the judge said in the appeal hearing.

‘I feel unheard. I don’t think justice has been served. If I saw Amesbury now, chances are I would ignore him.’

Amesbury later appealed the sentence which was suspended for two years, meaning he will not have to serve it in prison 

Footage of the incident on October 26 last year provoked outrage. It showed Amesbury lashing out and continuing to hit Mr Fellows (pictured) until onlookers held him back