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Runcorn vote Amesbury says Labour making big mistakes
The Guardian
|May 07, 2025
The former Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury has called on Labour backbenchers to oppose winter fuel and welfare cuts, after the byelection in his former seat was lost to Reform UK.
Amesbury, who stood down after he was convicted of assaulting a constituent, said he took responsibility for his failings but said results up and down the country showed the government was making "some big political mistakes".
The former Runcorn and Helsby MP, who turns 56 today, said he had "paid a price" for punching the man after late-night drinking. He had lost his home and income and been hospitalised to deal with his mental health.
Amesbury said he was not surprised that Reform won last week's byelection. It had been a large Labour majority but Nigel Farage's party took the seat by just six votes.
This story is from the May 07, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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