Mike Amesbury, suspended Labour MP

It seems remarkable that his appeal was dealt with so swiftly when others may have to wait a long time.

It was a very simple appeal (ie on sentence not conviction as he plead guilty).

Dates are decided in negotiation between courts and CPS.

I think fast forwarding was appropriate as the Recall Process (whereby the constancy can remove Amesbury) can take a very long time and the appeal had to be heard before that recall process begins. Meanwhile Amesbury is on full MP pay.

There was, I am sure, political interference.

I'd describe it as a Public Interest decision. I'm sure there are a small number every year the CPS has to engage with as well as the huge number of other prosecutions/appeals and try to make "best decisions possible".

The CPS sometimes decide that a prosecution is not in the public interest. However they would not have been involved in fast tracking this appeal.

Triple checking it: you are right that its the Crown Court decides appeal dates if the person appeals a magistrates sentence.

I just don't see any party political interest at play here though? Surely its in everyone's interests to get the Recall process underway?

Of course, it is. The most important thing is that the people of Runcorn and Helsby have a say in who represents them. That process couldn’t begin until the appeal had been dealt with. I am assuming that the Speaker now has it in hand.

Thank you Wyllow. The government would want the appeal process completed asap so that the constituents could recall him, in other words get him out of parliament.

Let’s hope this happens soon, Barleyfields

I do hope so. He’s a thug who has no place in parliament.

Barleyfields

I do hope so. He’s a thug who has no place in parliament.

I agree, he beat that man on the ground and anyone else would have received a longer sentence.,