Mike Amesbury, suspended Labour MP

The judge said the other party wasn't badly hurt and that is one of the considerations in sentencing.
So that's all right then?
No it is not.
This man was in a position of authority, able to make decisions which affect others, and very clearly lacks judgement and the ability to control his violent temper.
It is down to the electorate of his constituency to rid Parliament of him, and I hope they do it speedily.

I have family in his constituency, the locals are furious and see two tier labour at work again. That man will be out just as soon as they can hold an election

I hope he resigns under pressure from his constituents.

A sentence suspended for two years is more likely to ensure he doesn’t re-offend than a short prison sentence.

love0c

It was a bad attack. I am very surprised he did not get a lot longer. I have always understood that ' the only behaviour you can control is your own'. So why only 10 weeks for an actual assault but long sentences for posting on facebook for incitement? Hinting at other people to do deeds is not you doing the actual deed. Do not agree at all with the way things are going in this country. Not happy at all. And very, very worrying!!

Perhaps reading a transcript of the judges ruling would answer your questions.

Read the Sentencing Council's guidelines and take it up with the judiciary.

www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/outlines/assault/

Amesbury isn't in a position of authority. Who does he have authority over? He a public servant, an MP who was elected by members of his constituency. It is up to them to decide if they want him to continue to represent them.

It is nothing to do with "two tier Labour". The party suspended him from the party in October as soon as the incident occurred. He now sits as an independent.

As I have already pointed out, the current law on this is The Representation of the People Act 1981 enacted under the Conservatives and The Recall of MPs Act 2015 enacted under the Conservative/LibDem Coalition.

Please explain where "two tier Labour" comes into it.

Because justice is different for those with money, knowledge, the general ability to know where to go for advice, etc, etc. In the way that most of life is different for those people.

I wouldnt use the word two tier I would use the word class or money or power.

The appeal was handled at great speed which makes me think that strings were pulled to speed the legal process. If they were, I suspect it would have been to get the ball rolling on what happens next to allow the people of Runcorn and Helsby to decide what they want.

Since October, work will have been going on at CLP level to see who might replace Amesbury as the Labour candidate in a by-election.

Whatever…. It’s a damn disgrace. 🤨

Would the Labour Party be pulling the strings, he has been expelled? Who do people think was pulling them, and why?

I dont think it is pulling strings as such, the strings which favour those who have financial means, power, just the ability to function, are already there.

There is something decidedly fishy about the speed with which the appeal was dealt with. If that means he can be ousted more quickly there’s a good ending, but clearly strings were pulled by the government and that should never happen.

Cant comment on the sentence as I don't know what the guidelines are but I think it was good to bring appeal forward so things could move on as regards Recall or more hopefully resignation.

I looked up the Recall process as I'd wrongly thought it had to come from the public but it will happen

"Once the court proceedings and appeals process is completed, the court will notify the Speaker of the House of Commons that the MP has been given a custodial sentence.
The Speaker will then contact the local returning officer, which is the person in charge of elections.

In Runcorn and Helsby, that would be the returning officer at Halton Council.

During this process, they are known as the petitions officer.
The Speaker must give notice that one of the conditions for triggering a recall petition has been met to the petitions officer "as soon as reasonably practicable".

Once that notice has been received, the petitions officer must name up to ten places where the petition may be signed once it has been opened.

The receipt of notice is deemed as the day after the Speaker has given notice to the petitions officer.

On the 10th working day after the receipt of notice, the recall petition would open.

That petition will then remain open for six weeks.

"Once the signing period has been completed, the signatures must be counted as soon as possible - no later than one day after the end of the period.

If the petition is successful - if it has been signed by 10% of eligible registered voters - the petition officer must notify the Speaker.

The MP's seat becomes vacant on the giving of that notice - and the public can only be notified after the Speaker has been told.

Barleyfields

There is something decidedly fishy about the speed with which the appeal was dealt with. If that means he can be ousted more quickly there’s a good ending, but clearly strings were pulled by the government and that should never happen.

Why do you think the government would pull strings to make the sentence of an MP they have expelled lighter Barleyfields? They can’t force an election to my knowledge, the constituents are the only ones who can in these circumstances. Given that there is a good chance that Labour will lose the seat if there is a by election, I just can’t see why they would pull any strings for him.

Barleyfields

There is something decidedly fishy about the speed with which the appeal was dealt with. If that means he can be ousted more quickly there’s a good ending, but clearly strings were pulled by the government and that should never happen.

I think it's in the public interest to have completed the appeal as soon as possible not leaving the constituency in limbo any longer.
I think it's likely this was planned by the CPS all the way through: since he pleaded guilty they knew after scheduling the trial there could be an appeal and had it planned.

He wasn’t expelled Casdon. He was suspended and then resigned from the party. The process described by Wyllow can only be commenced once the appeal process is completed so only now can steps be taken to recall him and that would end with a by election. I don’t know what chance Labour have of winning and we don’t yet know who they would put forward.

Not sure what part you think the CPS played in the appeal Wyllow?

Okay re expulsion, but it amounts to the same thing if he resigned after suspension because he wouldn’t be allowed back as a candidate. I still don’t see a reason for them to push forward his sentence review, as given the current poll ratings there is no way they will be pushing for an early by election. Unless Andy Burnham will chuck in his mayoral role and stand, that’s the only circumstances in which they will do well.

Wyllow that seems a more likely scenario to me.

Barleyfields

Not sure what part you think the CPS played in the appeal Wyllow?

The CPS are involved in scheduling trials and appeals with courts.

Do you have evidence of that?

Yes, I'd looked it up.

Appeals for magistrate court sentences go to the Crown Court

www.gov.uk/appeal-magistrates-court-decision/when-to-appeal-to-the-crown-court#:~:text=If%20you%20were%20able%20to,only%20appeal%20against%20your%20sentence.

Scheduling appeals is part of the remit of the CPS

“Within the CPS, conduct of appeals against sentence and conviction is the responsibility of the Appeals and Review Unit, Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.”

www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/appeals-court-appeal

(There have also been quite long threads a while ago that went into detail about the CPS - their structures and remit - over various cases)

It’s nonsense to suggest the government could somehow influence the appeal process

Of course the CPS has conduct of appeals if the prosecution is represented Wyllow. They don’t schedule appeal dates. They are independent of the courts system.