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A recall petition for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Runcorn and Helsby is expected in 2025. Runcorn and Helsby's MP, Mike Amesbury, was sentenced on 24 February 2025 to 10 weeks in prison for assault. [1] The petition will be triggered if the sentence stands. If the petition goes ahead, 10% of the constituency's electorate will have to sign the petition to cause a by-election.
Amesbury was first elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Weaver Vale at the 2017 general election. [2] Weaver Vale was abolished in the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies and largely replaced by the new constituency of Runcorn and Helsby. [3] Amesbury was elected to represent Runcorn and Helsby at the 2024 general election with a majority of almost 15,000. [4]
In the early hours of 26 October 2024, Amesbury was filmed in Frodsham repeatedly punching a man. [5] [6] Pending an investigation, he was suspended from the Labour Party. [7] [6]
On 7 November 2024, Amesbury was charged with common assault. [8] He pleaded guilty to assault and subsequently resigned from the Labour Party. [9] On 24 February 2025, he was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment. The Recall of MPs Act 2015 is automatically triggered by any custodial sentence (even if it is suspended). [1] [10] [11] However, Amesbury is expected to appeal the sentencing decision. [12] A petition is not triggered until the appeal period has expired without the sentence being overturned. [13] [14] [10] [11]
In reaction, Labour and Reform UK called for a by-election. [12] [10] The Conservative Party invited applications to be their candidate in a by-election in February, prior to Amesbury's sentencing. [15]
If the petition goes ahead, it will be open for six weeks [16] [11] and requires 10% of the constituency's electorate to sign it to trigger a by-election. [14] [10]