Labour MP who hit a constituent amid bridge row urged to resign

The Labour MP who punched a constituent in the early hours of Saturday morning has been urged to resign, as it was reported they had argued over the closure of a local bridge.

- Robyn Vinter

Mike Amesbury was suspended from the party over the weekend and has had the whip withdrawn after videos emerged of the altercation in Frodsham, in his Cheshire constituency of Runcorn and Helsby.

The two men had a row about the temporary closure of the Sutton Weaver swing bridge, which connects Frodsham with the village of Sutton Weaver and is to undergo repair works, a witness told the Times.

The bridge was due to be closed for several weeks in January and March, leading to a 20-mile detour for some residents, which Amesbury had previously called "unacceptable". Though the planned closure is now likely to be moved to the half-term holidays to limit disruption, it remains extremely contentious.

However, a Labour source said the row had also involved controversial cuts to the winter fuel payment.