Disgraced former Labour MP Mike Amesbury has broken his silence following Reform UK’s razor-thin victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election last week, saying he is “disappointed but not surprised” by the result, and urging Labour backbenchers to push the leadership to “think again” on key policy issues.
Amesbury, who stepped down earlier this year after being convicted of assaulting a constituent in a late-night altercation, spoke candidly to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about his regret and the political fallout now engulfing his former seat.
The by-election, triggered by Amesbury’s resignation, was won by Reform by a margin of just six votes — a devastating blow to Labour in what was previously considered a safe seat. The narrow defeat has intensified pressure on Labour’s leadership to reassess its current direction, especially after weeks of unrest over welfare policy and cost-of-living measures.
Amesbury, 55, who served as MP for the area from 2017 until his resignation in February, said: “I was really disappointed by the result, but to be honest, I wasn’t surprised. Reform have been the beneficiaries of some significant political mistakes made by our own party.”
He continued: “I want this government to succeed, I really do. But if Labour carries on like this, making avoidable blunders — winter fuel allowance being a clear example, and soon personal independence payments — then we’re risking everything we’ve worked for.”
In a pointed message to Labour MPs, Amesbury called on backbenchers to hold the leadership to account: “This is not about being disloyal. It’s about doing the right thing. I’d urge colleagues to go to the leadership and say, ‘Come on now. Let’s just think again.’ If we’re serious about having a two-term Labour government and transforming the country for the better, then we need to listen to the people.”
Amesbury’s comments come amid growing concerns within the party that policy decisions seen as out of touch are fuelling discontent among traditional Labour voters. While Labour maintains a solid majority in Westminster, last week’s by-election result is being seen by many as a wake-up call.
The former MP’s political fall from grace was swift. He was jailed for 10 weeks in February after pleading guilty to assaulting a constituent in Frodsham, Cheshire, during a street altercation in the early hours of the morning. However, his sentence was later suspended following an appeal, and he was released after spending three nights in HMP Altcourse.
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Reflecting on the incident, Amesbury said: “It was a terrible mistake. I’d never punched anyone in my life. That night was a series of bad decisions that have changed my life forever. At 10 past two in the morning… well, I don’t remember the last time I was out at that hour.”
He added: “It wasn’t about power. That wasn’t the issue. It was a surreal, almost outer-body experience. It felt like a living nightmare.”
Despite the personal scandal, Amesbury insisted that his concern now is for the future of the Labour government and the direction it’s taking. “Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves need to not just hear the warning signs, but act on them. Reform didn’t win that seat because they offered something better — they won because we, Labour, failed to offer something good enough.”
The Labour Party has yet to issue an official response to Amesbury’s remarks, though internal rumblings suggest a renewed debate over benefits reform and economic policy may now be inevitable.
As the dust settles on the Runcorn and Helsby result, one thing is clear: Labour cannot afford to ignore the warning signs — no matter how small the margin of defeat.
