A Labour MP who punched a stranger in the street had been arguing with him over the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance and the closure of a local bridge moments earlier, it was claimed today.Mike Amesbury lashed out at Paul Fellows, 42, while he was waiting for a taxi in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of Saturday.CCTV footage exclusively obtained by the Mail showed the MP for Runcorn and Helsby floor the father-of-two with a single punch, before delivering further blows while he lay prone in the road.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the footage as ‘shocking.’ He insisted the Labour Party had moved ‘swiftly’ to suspend the MP, who will now sit as an independent, but refused to comment further while a police investigation was ongoing.Mr Amesbury was quizzed under caution by officers after voluntarily contacting Cheshire police on Saturday morning. He was released pending further inquiries. Paul Fellows (pictured), 42, was attacked by the MP for Runcorn & Helsby on Merseyside while he was waiting for a taxi in Frodsham, Cheshire, at 2.15am on Saturday The father-of-two (pictured) was sent tumbling to the ground in an attack caught on CCTV camerasHowever, locals today insisted Mr Amesbury should resign for the apparent loutish behaviour and a by-election called.Resident Laura Porter, 40, said: ‘I voted for Labour in the General Election and I don’t want him representing me. He has to lose his job. I want a by-election.’James Anderton, 36, agreed.’He should either resign or be sacked. I think the only sensible solution is for there to be a by election.’Witnesses claimed Mr Amesbury and Mr Fellows had both been drinking in pubs in the market town but didn’t know each other.They began rowing in the taxi queue over Labour’s plans to means test the winter fuel payment and the closure of the Sutton Weaver swing bridge moments before the fracas. The bridge, which sits on a main artery into the town from the nearby M56 motorway, is set to be closed for 33 days in January and March for vital engineering works.Mr Amesbury, 55, who was stripped of the Labour whip when video footage began circulating online, has previously labelled the closure ‘unacceptable.’He had attended a police meeting about community safety earlier on Friday evening before drinking in Kash 22 and The Cholmondley Arms, which has a 2am licence.The incident took place after the pub closed at around 2.15am. A witness has claimed that Mr Amesbury and the constituent were talking about the closure of a local bridge Mr Amesbury launches a punch seemingly without physical provocation and then continues to hit the man a further five times while he lay on the ground Pictured: Mike Amesbury MP who has had the Labour whip suspended pending an investigation into footage that appeared to show him punching a man to the groundIn a video taken by another man, who was also waiting in the taxi queue, Mr Amesbury can be seen leaning over and pointing at Mr Fellows while shouting: ‘You won’t ever threaten me again.’Colin Jones, who runs a bric a brac shop in the town, said: ‘I’ve heard they were arguing over the winer fuel allowance and the A56 swing bridge closure. People aren’t very happy about that because it will have a big impact on traffic.’Mike Amesbury should be locked up for what he’s done. If it was anyone else they would have been arrested and in jail by now.’Another local, who didn’t want to be named, said Mr Amesbury drank regularly with his friends in Frodsham and was often ‘p***** up’ in local bars.One woman, whose sister was waiting for a taxi at the same time, told the Times Mr Amesbury was ‘just drunk and beat someone up.’She said: ‘He is trying to get out of it now. He was trying to beat him to a pulp. My sister tried to intervene and pull him off. You have seen the video of how drunk he was.’Hugo Deynham, a Tory councillor on Chester West and Cheshire Council, whose ward covers Frodsham, told the Mail ‘single punches kill people’ and such acts of violence should be condemned in the strongest terms.’From what you can see on the video it looks pretty brutal, there is no condoning it,’ Mr Deynham said.’We need to send a message that single punches do kill people and the full force of the law must come down on those guilty of such offences.’We don’t know what led up to this and we need to wait for the police to complete their investigation. But if Mike Amesbury is found to be guilty of an offence, then I believe he should be forced to stand down and a by-election should be called.’ Hours before the brawl, MP Mike Amesbury had attended a meeting with the local police commissionerAs criticism of Mr Amesbury grew, Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick wrote on X: ‘Labour’s promised to ‘smash the gangs’. Looks like they’re now smashing their constituents instead.’Dehenna Davison, the former Conservative MP and levelling-up minister, also described the footage as horrendous. She said: ‘I have spent years working with One Punch UK to raise awareness of the dangers a single punch can cause. Such violence — whatever the background to the altercation — is never and should never be justified.’Mr Amesbury has previously demanded tougher sentences for violent crime and is one of the stringent critics in Parliament of violence.During the Southport riots over the summer, he posted on X that ‘thugs and criminals’ should expect a decade in jail.In February 2020, Mr Amesbury spoke during a Westminster Hall debate on the assault of retail workers where he commented: ‘Anyone who is assaulted deserves to be protected by the law…What is more, despite ample evidence, some cases are not being prosecuted, even when there is clear video footage of an assault.’He added: ‘We need this opportunity to talk about the violence and threats faced by thousands of constituents in their day-to-day lives and to press the Government to take action.’I have seen multiple cases that show that the Government need to do more to encourage prosecutions and appropriate sentences that do not leave victims feeling abandoned.’Under the Government’s plans, only OAPs in receipt of pension credit will qualify for the winter fuel allowance, which is worth up to £300 a year.Around 10million pensioners are expected to lose out because of the move, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves says will boost Government coffers by £1.4billion annually.A witness told The Times that the conversation about the local bridge, which also included discussions about the winter fuel allowance, grew ‘heated’ on both sides, but claimed there had been no physical provocation. Mr Amesbury had earlier claimed he was ‘threatened’ and referred himself to police.As fresh details continue to emerge, one woman whose sister was waiting for a taxi at the same time, claimed Mr Amesbury was ‘just drunk and beat someone up.’She told The Times: ‘He is trying to get out of it now. He was trying to beat him to a pulp. My sister tried to intervene and pull him off. You have seen the video of how drunk he was. She was waiting for a taxi and so was the man.’It’s believed that the MP was drinking at local pubs before the attack.  Hours before the brawl, he had attended a meeting with the local police commissioner in which he said he was ‘listening to residents’ concerns and ideas for policing and community safety.’Last night, on top of the suspension by his party after he was ‘voluntarily interviewed under caution by police’, there were calls for Amesbury to step down or be barred from parliament.Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick told the Mail: ‘Labour said they’d smash the gangs – instead it looks like they’re smashing their constituents instead.’There is no way you can remain an MP if you’re beating up constituents after a night out.’Suspending the Labour whip in the Commons, a party spokesman said: ‘Mike Amesbury MP has been assisting Cheshire Police with their inquiries following an incident on Friday night.’As these inquiries are now ongoing, the Labour Party has administratively suspended Mr Amesbury’s membership of the Labour Party pending an investigation.’Footage of the incident first emerged in the hours after the fracas, showing Amesbury wagging a finger in the prone man’s face, shouting: ‘You won’t threaten me again, will you.’A man’s voice can then be heard shouting twice: ‘The MP for Runcorn f***ing smacking someone on the floor.’As another man tells Mr Amesbury to ‘leave it’, the MP walks away, before turning back and yelling: ‘Yes I am, yes I am… and you won’t ever threaten the MP ever again will you.’At that point, it was unclear what had led to the unedifying scenes.But the video obtained by the Mail shone a new light on it, leading to a chorus of condemnation. After the attack, Amesbury tells the man ‘don’t threaten me ever again.’ The shocking recording was obtained exclusively by the Mail after Amesbury went to police to report that he had been ‘involved in an incident’ after he ‘felt threatened’ After the assault bystanders rush to help the man. One woman says: ‘You’re like grown men, what are you fighting for’For 90 seconds ahead of the violence, the politician and the unnamed man were merely in what appears to be a heated conversation, with some finger pointing at one another.It was being claimed on Sunday night that the pair did not know each other prior to the incident in the centre of the Cheshire market town of Frodsham.The apparent victim is stood with his hands in his pockets and has made no physical move towards Mr Amesbury when the politician suddenly hit him with a left-handed jab of such force his opponent was sent sprawling off the kerb and to the ground.The CCTV footage then shows Amesbury bending over the man and throwing a barrage of at least more five punches. It is not clear how hard they connected.Others milling about in the street were then alerted to the fracas and ran to stop it.The MP had spent the evening at a meeting with residents, the local policing team and Cheshire’s Labour Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, to discuss ‘policing priorities and concerns’.Jade Marsden, who stood against Amesbury for the Conservatives at the general election in July, said: ‘It’s disgusting to think someone like that beat me in an election. There’s no excuse for it whatsoever.’Regardless of what the person was saying, he should have thicker skin than to respond in such a way.’When the police have finished their investigation, he needs to be suspended by parliament so he can face a recall petition and a possible by-election.’I doubt any person will want that MP representing them.’Both men made contact with the police and Amesbury was ‘voluntarily interviewed under caution’. He was later released pending further enquiries.On Saturday he said he went to police to report that he had been ‘involved in an incident’ after he ‘felt threatened on the street following an evening out with friends’ in his home town.At his £685,000, five-bedroom detached home, his wife Amanda, 50, yesterday told reporters to ‘p*** off’.Locals in his Runcorn and Helsby constituency aired their disgust at the video yesterday.Resident Mike Haller, 35, said: ‘If a member of the public punched someone repeatedly while on the floor, I’m sure they would be in a police cell by now.’It’s disgusting behaviour. There’s no excuse for his actions and he should be charged and jailed, if found guilty.’The fella on the floor is lucky people stepped in to help so quickly or it could have been much worse.’Hilary Morgan, 44, said: ‘It is shocking. You can actually hear the punch connect with the man’s face.’He then continues punching the man while on the floor.’Michael Garvey, a Labour councillor representing Frodsham and former police officer, declined to comment whether action should be taken against Mr Amesbury – but he added: ‘My understanding is neither Mr Amesbury nor the other person knew each other prior to the incident.’We have to be sensitive around this investigation because we have two sides involved. We’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s happened and it wouldn’t be right for me to comment.’ Another video from the incident, filmed on a member of the public’s mobile phone, shows Mr Amesbury repeatedly hitting the man while another person appears to be attempting to push the MP away from the manMr Amesbury released a statement on Saturday, saying: ‘Last night, I was involved in an incident that took place after I felt threatened on the street following an evening out with friends.’This morning, I contacted Cheshire police myself to report what happened during the incident.’I will not be making further public comment but will, of course, cooperate with any inquiries if required by Cheshire police.’I remain fully committed to working hard for the people of Runcorn and Helsby, and am determined to remain an open and accessible MP for our community.’A Tory party spokesman said: ‘Mike Amesbury has questions to answer about his actions and it is right they are thoroughly investigated.’A spokesman for Reform UK, which came second to Amesbury in July’s election, said: ‘The new footage of Mike Amesbury MP is damning.’No matter what verbal exchanges happened before, it’s never acceptable for anyone to resort to violence to solve a dispute, let alone a sitting Member of Parliament.’It’s quite clear that the people of Runcorn and Helsby deserve far better than this.’Reform UK are today calling for Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held.’A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: ‘A 55-year-old man has been voluntarily interviewed under caution by police in relation to this incident. He has since been released pending further enquiries.’  Yesterday, video emerged of the aftermath of the attack but it did not show Amesbury punching the man. The footage showed him saying ‘You won’t ever threaten me again will you’ In the aftermath of the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning, Amesbury was filmed leaning over the man on the floor and warning him not to threaten him again The incident is major headache for Keir Starmer, coming just days before his Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil major tax rises in Labour’s first Budget in 14 years.National insurance contributions for employers will rise and the Chancellor is also expected to hike capital gains tax, close inheritance tax loopholes and extend a freeze on income tax thresholds.  But the Prime Minister has denied he misled voters when he pledged during the General Election campaign not to hit ‘working people’ with tax increases. He suggested last week that landlords and Britons with shares and savings do not qualify as ‘working people’.  Amesbury (pictured outside Downing Street) became MP for Weaver Vale in 2017 before the constituency was renamed as Runcorn and Helsby, and was in the Shadow Cabinet until 2022 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is pictured here with Amesbury on the campaign trail in Weaver Vale, Cheshire in 2019 Amesbury, a Manchester United fan, is married to wife Amanda (pictured together) and they have a teenage son. They live in a £685,000 home in Frodsham, Cheshire  Amesbury is pictured here on the campaign trail with Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner Amesbury lives with his wife Amanda, 50, and their 14-year-old son in a house in Frodsham which is thought to be worth £685,000.Who is Mike Amesbury? The former careers advisor who Keir Starmer saw as a rising star  By James Marsden Mike Amesbury has been in the Labour Party for nearly half a century – having joined at the age of 17.He became an MP in 2017 and was initially viewed as a rising star with Sir Keir Starmer appointing him shadow minister for work, pensions and employment from July 2018 then shadow minister for housing and planning in April 2020.But in 2022, the Manchester United and rugby league fan stepped back to focus on his constituents.Mr Amesbury, who is married with a teenage son, briefly came back as Shadow minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government between September last year and May this year before returning to the backbenches.Mr Amesbury, who graduated from the University of Bradford with a degree in community studies, became a councillor in his native Manchester in 2006.He was later elected to the party’s policy making arm, the National Policy Forum (NPF), as well as serving as a policy adviser to Tameside Council, a director of a housing trust in Manchester and a director of the city’s international arts festival.Prior to his parliamentary career, he worked as a careers adviser and was a senior parliamentary adviser for Angela Rayner when she was Shadow Secretary of State for Education.And the politician also became a political adviser and stakeholder manager for Andy Burnham during his successful campaign to become mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017.In March 2019, Mr Amesbury was forced to apologise for having shared an anti-Semitic caricature on Facebook in 2013 in a post referencing an ‘Illuminati’ conspiracy theory. He claimed at the time that he had not shared the post intentionally.In 2018, his cockapoo dog, Corbyn, won a prize when MPs held a bring-your-dog-to-work day.The pet won the ‘people’s vote’ accolade for best dog after an online vote open to the public.After his dog was presented with the prize, he revealed his son came up with the name, adding: ‘I always find it entertaining when my wife shouts ‘Corbyn’ when he runs off the lead.’ He first became MP for Weaver Vale in 2017 before the Constituency was renamed as Runcorn and Helsby this year, and held four shadow ministerial positions when Labour were in opposition.Amesbury who is a Manchester United fan with an interest in rugby league and indie music, was shadow minister for work, pensions and employment from July 2018 until April 2020 when he became shadow minister for housing, communities and local Government.He had the same Shadow title after September 2021 in the new department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities until June 2022 when he stood down saying he couldn’t give role ‘the energy it demands’ and wanted to do more to help his constituents.Amesbury came back as Shadow minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government between September last year and May this year.Before his parliamentary career, he previously worked as a careers adviser and was a senior parliamentary adviser for Angela Rayner when she was Shadow Secretary of State for Education.Amesbury, who graduated from the University of Bradford with a degree in community studies, was also a political adviser and stakeholder manager for Andy Burnham during his successful campaign to become mayor of Greater Manchester.He was also a policy adviser to Tameside Council and a director of a housing trust in Manchester.Amesbury joined the Labour Party as a 17-year-old before becoming a councillor in Manchester in 2006. He was later elected to the party’s policy making arm, the National Policy Forum (NPF).He was forced to apologise in March 2019 for having shared an anti-Semitic caricature on Facebook in 2013 in a post referencing the ‘illuminati’ conspiracy theory. He claimed at the time that he had not shared the post ‘intentionally’.Amesbury was re-elected as MP for Weaver Vale in the 2019 election, and again for Runcorn and Helsby this year.It was revealed last year that he was a victim of stalking by part time chef Stephen Cowell, 56, who was found guilty of the offence after a trial at Chester magistrates court.Cowell was given an eight week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and pay compensation of £500 to Amesbury in August last year. The MP said he would donate the compensation to charity.A Labour party spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an incident that took place last night.’We understand that Mike Amesbury MP approached Cheshire police to report what happened this morning himself and that he will cooperate with any inquiries they have.’