Forum Topic

Labour MP hits a constituent

Wow is this really the type of people we want in government, this is sinking to a new low what has happened to politicians, society for an MP to think this is acceptable, he needs to be gone

Jayne Thorburn ● 27d76 Comments

"such brutality and lust for domination is what helped make our tiny country great - when at it's peak the British Empire held sway over 23% of the world's population" What is often forgotten is that the British Empire was largely policed by local residents. For example, There were 2.5m soldiers under arms in the British Indian Army at the end of WW2.

Sam Hearn ● 16d

Good. This thug has been charged with assault.

Steve Taylor ● 16d

Why are so many of you getting your knickers in a twist and falling out with each other over this non-story?At the end of the day it's only about drunken vulgar people kicking the shit out of other drunken people they consider inferior to themselves, after a good night out on the piss - something which happens on a grand scale after closing time every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in every town and city in our otherwise beautiful, peaceful and caring land. It's something the police expect to have to deal with, and gives them something to do when they're not investigating each other. We must remember, too, that such brutality and lust for domination is what helped make our tiny country great - when at it's peak the British Empire held sway over 23% of the world's population , and covered 24% of the Earth's land area.As for the MP involved, they should make him Minister Of Defence.

Roger Talbot ● 23d

Other than the whips asking the MP what occured what other sort of investigation do you think the party should be undertaking? The MP has been suspended, and will continue to be suspended until the outcome of any charging decision by the police, prosecution decision by the CPS, and potential court case.Any additional sanctions by the labour party should wait until after the outcome of the legal processes, so as to not cause prejudice to any legal proceedings.

Andrew Jones ● 24d

Rubbish. The party could investigate itself because MPs are subject to a code of conduct. The police investigation is totally different because it could lead to criminal charges for GBH / criminal assault.

Steve Taylor ● 25d

"I can assure you, institutional racism does not (anymore) reside within the police, certainly not in London."How can you assure anybody of this? Go on then ....

Paul Campbell ● 25d

Obviously the police investigation takes precedent.

David Burke ● 25d

So do we assume that the Labour Party isn’t investigating the incident or interviewing the MP?

Steve Taylor ● 25d

We're not excusing anything, but just questioning trial by a grabbed iPhone video that's been fed to an anti-Labour national newspaper.  Let's see what emerges from the police investigation.

Peter Evans ● 25d

So the constituent questions his MP about STARMER’S cancellation of the Winter Fuel Payment and the MP punches him in the face full on and then continues to punch him on the ground. How lovely!! And cowardly Starmer won’t even comment on having the MP sacked. Perhaps he feels guilty about the MP defending (with his fists) Starmer’s screwing of pensioners. “Sidestepping a question on whether Mr Amesbury should resign as an MP, Sir Keir earlier said: "I have seen the video footage, it's shocking.”But he won’t man up and do anything about it.

Steve Taylor ● 25d

Trump-like, you keep on peddling the same lies about 'party supporters on this forum'. You must suppose that if you shout loud enough and long enough, people will eventually come to believe you. No-one on this forum has sought to excuse Amesbury's behaviour.

Robert Fish ● 25d

"..party supporters on this forum unashamedly excuse the thuggery."Which post(s) are you thinking of ? Most sensible posters here are waiting to see the police report before jumping to conclusions and no-one is excusing thuggery.

Richard Greenhough ● 25d

“ Politicians of all parties are just like the rest of us,”But they shouldn’t be should they, when they are elected to public office and are there to serve. They are bound by a Code of Conduct and must adhere to it. The whole process fails when people excuse their appalling, if not illegal, behaviour. I find it shameful that an MP resorts to physical abuse but quite abhorrent that party supporters on this forum unashamedly excuse the thuggery.

Steve Taylor ● 25d

Looks like I am in good company as I don’t condone violence from anyone so seeing such from an MP is absolutely crossing the line for me. He isn’t fit for public office of any kind certainly not as an MP.

Jayne Thorburn ● 25d

"You’ve learnt a lot from Trump."Interesting that one of his former staffers has called him a Fascist, but he then goes on stage to deny being a Nazi. While Mussolini and Hitler had some things in common, I tend to think that there were sufficient differences between them not to regard the terms as interchangeable. But then, when did accuracy matter to Dumbass Donald ?

Richard Greenhough ● 25d

Politicians of all parties are just like the rest of us, if not more so, just witness the succession of scandals in the last parliament, many of them from other parties. Let's wait for the facts on this episode, although I agree it doesn't look good.

Davey Harris ● 25d

Stream of consciousness stuff, Anne. In the best tradition of Proust, Joyce and Virginia Woolf!

Robert Fish ● 25d

Your emotions have interfered with the ability to express yourself clearly.

Anne England ● 25d

So very predictable of Banton to agree with the Forum narcissist to condone a Labour MPs violent and thuggish behaviour. There is no shame that Starmer’s party drags British politics to a new low. No decency.

Steve Taylor ● 25d

I think you’re being quite unfair on Julian. He calls his assertions “facts without knowing”. The wisdom of the commons.

Paul Campbell ● 26d

One can only wonder what they hope to achieve with their shrill hysteria on a local forum. It’s curious to observe.

Paul Campbell ● 26d

Well said, Robert.  Exactly my thoughts.

Alastair Banton ● 26d

More mindless insults. It's ironic that the supreme narcissist of the W4 forum employs the term without any self-awareness whatsoever.I see you've progressed from asking whether I condone Amesbury's violence to asserting confidently that I do. For the record, I condemn such thuggery. But I also condemn people such as yourself, Jayne Thorburn and Julian Pavey, who cynically exploit the incident to denigrate Starmer. You've all gone quite demented since 4th July.

Robert Fish ● 26d

Even though this MP was only physically fighting Starmer’s cause, he should still be prosecuted and face a prison term for such violence.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

Spoken like a true narcissist, Fish. Totally predictable from someone who condones violence from thug MPs.  You’ve learnt a lot from Trump.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

Haha! That reminds me of the Master of Repartee joke!

Robert Fish ● 26d

Infact i take the word smarmy back as its the wrong word i was looking for.You can still F off Your taking the piss in a very personal way

Julian Pavey ● 26d

You smarmy git F off

Julian Pavey ● 26d

Your opinions are a fact-free area, Julian. Even if you had any facts to back them up, you wouldn't have the articulacy to marshall them.

Robert Fish ● 26d

Ever the Trump-type blusterer! When criticised for lack of respect, always double down, and throw on more insults as well. But don't be concerned, Steve. Abuse from someone as noxious as you is no problem, but rather a badge of honour for me.

Robert Fish ● 26d

NopeBut labour leaning suporters dont like it up them so they refer back to the last 14 years for comfort and own peace of mind.Your not allowed to view your opinions without facts.Robert knows all about that when it comes to the war. But then wonders why people dont comment. Most likely because they dont agree in whole.Hey ho,carry one,free speach,free forum,unless starmer gets to visit the forum. 😁

Julian Pavey ● 26d

True Julian watching the security camera video is just shocking whilst I appreciate people have strong views about the WFP any MP punching and then continuing to punch when the person is down is truly shocking certainly for a girl to watch and I am sure most men. To be in public life and an MP surely they have to respect other people’s viewpoint without resorting to thuggery? Or am I wrong?

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

“think  before you rush to call other people's comments "stupid"No need to think Robert; the comment was blatantly stupid to all but a total fool like you. Thuggery is thuggery and financial dishonesty is a totally different thing. Perhaps you just condone such violence. Starmer’s took long enough to suspend the whip too. No leadership!

Steve Taylor ● 26d

Jayne,you got to wait for the full story.They might not be legit locals 😁

Julian Pavey ● 26d

So the latest press statement based upon some locals, Mike drinks regularly and get p****d, a local business person confronted him about means testing winter fuel payments and closure of a major artery a bridge hardly life threatening, no violence. I hope the police treat him like anyone else who displays violent behaviour. Just shocking behaviour and absolutely a new low for an MP. What type of people are being vetted as suitable for being an MP that’s thinks violence is appropriate behaviour 😱😱 he should be banned from public office.

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

I can assure you, institutional racism does not (anymore) reside within the police, certainly not in London.Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of ethnic men and women come into police custody.That fact gives credence to the view that the police are i.r.Mr Fish, I don't intend entering a long and boring whiff-whaff of a debate with you- you have your opinions set in stone, and probably so do I.Let things be.

Denis I. Fox ● 26d

STUPID

Julian Pavey ● 26d

It may be thuggery, and represent a new, or at least different, low, but it's the action of an individual who is not in government, and whom the government has not sought to justify or protect. Your attempt to lay all this at Starmer's door is nakedly partisan.

Robert Fish ● 26d

Poor comparison, thuggery is a new low for politicians

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

Think before you rush to call other people's comments "stupid". Vanessa's reference to Owen Paterson was very apposite. Jayne Thorburn has gone out of her way to use the case of Mike Amesbury to discredit Starmer's administration, even though the backbench MP was immediately suspended. Those who think that this is a scandal for which Labour need to be held to account, as payback for their criticisms of the deeds of Tory MPs, forget that some of the Tory cases were made far worse by Boris Johnson's attempts to protect them. Owen Paterson's case was particularly egregious because Johnson went as far as trying to overturn the entire disciplinary process so as to defend him.

Robert Fish ● 26d

So in your definition he is not in government just because he hasn’t got a ministerial position that’s weak got you

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

“ at least can put partisanship aside in the interests of fairness and justice.”More rubbish from Fish. The victim was physically attacked by the MP. No excuses. The behaviour of the MP was unacceptable and came across as particularly aggressive and thuggish. Hopefully he will be prosecuted for GBH

Steve Taylor ● 26d

“ rush to judgement but wait for the outcome of the police investigation.”Irrelevant. It’s illegal to punch someone in the face.

Steve Taylor ● 26d

“ Owen Paterson anyone?”What a stupid analogy. Paterson didn’t punch anyone full on in the face!

Steve Taylor ● 26d

No, that was a special and very shocking case. It's history, and hopefully lessons have been learned. I don't see two-tier policing nowadays as other than a white resentment issue. If there is still an element of two-tier policing, it's more because of an innate prejudice against black people on the part of some officers. Institutional racism has not yet been completely eradicated from the Met.

Robert Fish ● 26d

No doubting which side your allegiance lies Mr Fish.I suppose you sided on the Rotherham police ignoring grooming gangs for years and years.

Denis I. Fox ● 26d

No chanceHe did not walk away,he thumped him twice while the guy was standing hands in pockets and then when he went down unched him 5 times on the temple. I cant believe people are wanting more evidance. Its ABH.

Julian Pavey ● 26d

No, it doesn't highlight a perfect example of two-tier policing. It merely highlights the problem of forming judgments based on limited video evidence. Two-tier policing is a construct of disgruntled nativists.

Robert Fish ● 26d

Peter, your second paragraph highlights a perfect example of  two-tier policing, caused by a woke establishment.You refer to an incident between a group of Asian teenagers, just off a plane from Doha and armed police, alerted to an affray caused by them.What followed was an extremely violent clash lasting a full minute, whereupon a female officer had her nose broken from a vicious punch, and a male officer seen to kick her assailant's head in the act of restraining him. Tasers had to be used to curtail the Asians, who showed no respect nor any inclination to end the fiasco.Greater Manchester police immediately suspended their man for the kick to the head.As for the violent Asians, the GMP dallied and merely agreed for the CPS to decide what penalties to impose.4 months on and these people are still on bail. Why the delay, why not the swift justice (rightly) given to the summer rioters, the so called far righters? The Reform party has written to Yvette Cooper to complain of the inertia, and indeed taken out a private prosecution to obtain a proper outcome to this case.The Reform party believes that against the furore seen on national TV of the head kick, the extreme violence portrayed from the defendants will be forgotten by the public, and the case for proper justice waved.

Denis I. Fox ● 26d

Jayne, he was an MP for the governing party, but that does not make him a member of the government - to be so he would have had to have a ministerial appointment.

Richard Greenhough ● 26d

He was until this incident…..even you are struggling to defend his behaviour 😂😂😂 how many more are going to crawl out the woodwork….

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

I believe he is a former Shadow Minister, but was not given a government job after the election.

Richard Greenhough ● 26d

Try as you may to associate him with Keir Starmer, "this..thug" is not in the government.

Robert Fish ● 26d

Agreed, Richard. It's good that you at least can put partisanship aside in the interests of fairness and justice.

Robert Fish ● 26d

How do you know he was a constituent?

Andrew Jones ● 26d

It was all over the press so Labour had no choice but to act quickly. Given what the camera did pick up there were people around enjoying a chat and drinking so it didn’t look like a threatening situation, he should have just gone home not continue to either berating the chap or provoking him. The MP’s body language was more threatening than the chaps.

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

Out of interest Jayne, how do you know that the person Mike Amesbury hit was one of his constituents?Or is that an assumption? I'm sure the police investigation will get to the bottom of what happened, and if a prosecution results we'll know more facts then.At first sight it does appear to be outrageous violent behaviour, but until the full facts are known his suspension was entirely the appropriate action for the Labour party to take, and they did this pretty rapidly.

Andrew Jones ● 26d

After what happened to Jo Cox and David Amess then it is possible for an MP to feel threatened and the need to protect themselves. Mike Amesbury reported the incident to the police and I think we should not rush to judgement but wait for the outcome of the police investigation.

Richard Greenhough ● 26d

On this occasion the security camera doesn’t lie it’s there for all to see, the constituent had his hands in his pocket the MP just launched at him and then continues punching him when the chap was on the ground. Other people saw the assault and had to pull the MP off the chap on the ground there is no defence for this behaviour, it is there for the whole world to see. Regardless of politics this behaviour is totally unacceptable and he has to go. Of course the police have to investigate but the MP should be ashamed and resign is this the type of thug we want in government and public service I don’t think so.

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

Don't need facts on how it came aboutThe facts are clear, hit to the ground and then punched a further5 times. That's ABH

Julian Pavey ● 26d

Sensible point - the whole story would be nice before anyone rushes to judgement.

Vanessa Smith ● 26d

Best to wait for the facts, don't forget MPs are being attacked the same asour police are.

Janice Evans ● 26d

At least he has been suspended straight away - no excuses, unlike some who were prepared to defend the indefensible - Owen Paterson anyone?

Vanessa Smith ● 26d

Totally agree Julian there can be no justification for the way the MP behaved. Keir needs to be held to account just like any other PM, it’s tough at the top.

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

Not really it's somethingthat happened and isNot good and can't survivebeing a Labour Mp sowill join the restWho had the whip takenaway.And Labour need criticism becausethey are loosing thePlot daily and starmeris being a lawyer andnot a prime minister. Don't forget that searching Will bring up many a postsattacking cobs and thatis 14 years, not thelast 5Good for one side isfair game for the other. Ps. Sorry if text isa bit over the placeit's done on the phone

Julian Pavey ● 26d

Most people in the private sector will have their taxes increased so you are wrong. This is about behaviour and it was a security camera that caught the incident. Regardless of what happened before that punch and continued punching when the person was on the ground it is totally unacceptable. Certainly no way for anyone in public life to behave. So yes it is a reflection on the type of people Keir has in government and it is unacceptable.

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

Desperate stuff, Jayne.

Stewart Jones ● 26d

As so often in these cases of ‘grabbed videos’, it's never entirely clear what happened in the build-up to the moments caught on camera. It's entirely possible, from what the MP is heard saying, that the guy threatened the him and he defended himself ‘vigorously’, bearing in mind he'd previously been ‘stalked and harassed' by someone similar.    In the earlier incident at Manchester airport, the initial circulated footage showed the police lashing into a group of Asian teenagers, but subsequent CCTV coverage of the whole event showed the teenagers violently attacking the police, who'd been called to an earlier incident at the airport.

Peter Evans ● 26d

Marlene Plimley ● 26d

A suspension seems entirely appropriate until all the facts are known. Yes, it does at first sight seem shocking behaviour and the MP appears to be staggering, as if drunk. But your motive in dwelling on this is quite transparent. You hope to use the actions of one back-bench MP to discredit a Labour government which you fear may increase your tax bill.

Robert Fish ● 26d

Oh dear, a suspension, given the security camera recording there can be no doubt who threw the first punch and continued it is shocking behaviour and the MP does look drunk. Then the press knocked on their door to the wife opening it and if we wrote on this forum what she said we would be banned. They really are not the type of people who should be in government and public life. Let’s see if he resigns due to the shame he has brought upon himself. Wonder how the police are going to tackle this hopefully the same as any other citizen as he is not above the law.

Jayne Thorburn ● 26d

Mike Atherton, the Daily Telegraph's cricket journalist and renowned England captain from 1993 t0 1998 once said of unruly cricketers:"Nothing good happens after 2.00am".You could say the same for backbench Labour MPs.

Denis I. Fox ● 27d

😂😂😂 any MP’s behaviour like this Labour chap is appalling, given Keir stated he was cleaning up politics really think his party has a lot to do based upon their 120 days in government and Wednesday will prove even more misery for people. Just shocking behaviour a thug and in government……this is seriously a very low bar they have achieved.

Jayne Thorburn ● 27d

Sounds like you have an obsession with dubious Tory MPs, TP. Or do you just access websites where that sort of information is available ?

Richard Greenhough ● 27d

Yep,but its only been about 120 days and its a disaster.Nice try TP. You talk cars,il talk bikes ?Yep,that old chestnut

Julian Pavey ● 27d

Because, of course, you already know all the facts and have reached your conclusion.  Audi alteram partem.A new low?  Probably not. Let's not forget:- Ex-Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan (sexual assult)- Ex - Tory MP Andrew Griffiths (rape)- Ex- Tory MP Charlie Elphicke (sexual assult)- Ex - Tory MP Rob Roberts (unwanted sexual advances)- Ex - Tory MP Chris Pincher (sexual assult)- Ex - Tory MP Bob Stewart (racial abuse)- Tory MP Crispin Blunt (currently under investigation for rape and possession of controlled substances)- Ex - Tory Peter Bone (suspended from parliament for  bullying and sexual misconduct,including indecent exposure)To name but a few.Glass houses?

T P Howell ● 27d