Labor MP Mike Amesbury has been suspended from the party and had his whip withdrawn after CCTV footage appeared to show him punching a man to the ground.

Cheshire Police said a 55-year-old man was voluntarily interviewed under caution in connection with the incident and has since been released pending further enquiries.

Amesbury has been contacted for comment.

A Labor party spokesman said: “Mike Amesbury MP has been assisting Cheshire Police with their inquiries following an incident on Friday night.

“As these inquiries are ongoing, the Labor Party has administratively suspended Mr Amesbury’s membership of the Labor Party pending an investigation.”

He also lost the Labor whip in the House of Commons.

It is not clear what happened in preparation for the moments captured on film.

In the initial clip, Amesbury can be heard shouting: “You’re never going to threaten the MP again, are you?”

In a statement issued before the images appeared in the Daily Mail, Cheshire Police said: “At 02:48 BST on Saturday 26 October, police were called to reports of an assault in Frodsham.

“A caller reported being assaulted by a male on Main Street. Investigations are ongoing.”

Posting on his own Facebook page on Saturday, the 55-year-old said: ‘Last night I was involved in an incident which took place after I felt threatened following an outing with friends.

“This morning I also contacted Cheshire Police to report what happened.

“I will make no further public comment but will of course co-operate with any inquiries if requested by Cheshire Police.”

Asked about the initial clip and the police statement on Sunday morning, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC: “The police are now investigating the matter.

“I think it’s important that they’re allowed to move on and do their job, and I can’t say much more at this point.”

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said Amesbury “has questions to answer about his actions”, adding that it was “right they should be investigated thoroughly”.

A spokesman for Reform UK – whose candidate came second to Amesbury in July’s general election – called on him to resign.

In a post on Xshe said: “The police are investigating and I’m sure all the facts will come out soon.

“We have spent years working with One Punch UK to raise awareness of the dangers that one punch can cause.

“Such violence – regardless of the background of the altercation – is never and should never be justified.”

Amesbury has been the Labor MP for Cheshire since 2017 and served as a shadow minister from 2018 to 2024.

In the general election in July he won his constituency with a majority of 14,696.

In July 2023, a 56-year-old man was found guilty of stalking and harassing Amesbury at his constituency office and in the town.