|
| birth_place = [[Wythenshawe]], [[Manchester]], England
| alma_mater = [[Bradford University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Central England]] ([[PGDip]])
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]{{efn|Membership (suspended) since October 2024.}}
| website = {{Official website|mikeamesbury.org}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|careers adviser}}
}}
'''Michael Lee Amesbury''' (born 7 May 1969) is a British politician serving as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency)|Runcorn and Helsby]], previously [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]], since 2017. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], he has been suspended pending a police investigation since October 2024.
Amesbury began working as a careers adviser and later became a Labour Party officer. He has been a political adviser to [[Greater Manchester]] politicians including [[Andy Burnham]] and [[Angela Rayner]]. He served as a Member of [[Manchester City Council]] from 2006 to 2017 and an Executive Member from 2008 to 2012.
In Parliament, he shadowed several ministerial roles in the departments for [[Department for Work and Pensions|Work and Pensions]] and [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities|Levelling Up, Housing and Communities]] between 2018 and 2024.
==Early life and education==
Amesbury studied at [[Ilkley]] College, where he was awarded [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in Community Studies from [[University of Bradford|Bradford University]] in 1993. He was president of the Ilkley College [[students' union]] from 1993 to 1994, and founded its Labour Party society. In 1996, he received a [[Postgraduate diploma|Postgraduate Diploma]] in Careers Guidance from the [[University of Central England]] in [[Birmingham]].<ref>{{Who's Who|title=Amesbury, Mike|id=U289509|volume=2018|edition=February 2018 online|access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>
==Early political career==
Amesbury worked as a careers advisor in [[Birmingham]] after receiving his postgraduate degree.<ref name="auto" /> He became an officer for the North West [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] from 1999 until 2003, when hereturned becameto acareers mangeradvice atas careersa advicemanager serviceat [[Connexions (agency)|Connexions]]. He had previously worked as a careers advisor in [[Birmingham]] after receiving his postgraduate degree.<ref name="auto" />
Amesbury was first elected to [[Manchester City Council]] in [[2006 Manchester City Council election|2006]], defeating the incumbent [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] councillor in [[Fallowfield]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election results - Local elections 2006 {{!}} Manchester City Council |url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224190/local_elections_2006/category/1410/2006 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref> He served as the Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure from 2008 to 2012, working full-time in the role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-21 |title=Mather & Co scores with National Football Museum contract |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/markets/mather--co-scores-with-national-871274 |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> He was a member of Labour's [[National Policy Forum]] from 2010 to 2015, and served as a councillor until his resignation in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amesbury |first=Mike |date=7 July 2017 |title=The Register of Members' Financial Interests |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/170707/amesbury_mike.htm |website=UK Parliament}}</ref>
== Parliamentary career ==
At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Amesbury was elected to Parliament as MP for [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] with 51.5% of the vote and a majority of 3,928.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304 BBC News: Election results 2017: Labour gains Weaver Vale, Warrington South and Crewe and Nantwich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008170348/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304|date=2018-10-08}} (accessed 9 June 2017)</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Weaver Vale parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14001024 |work=BBC News}}</ref> He campaigned for 'remain' in the [[2016 EU membership referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDougall |first=John |date=12 November 2019 |title=Here's the Labour candidate's policies for Weaver Vale |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/general-election-2019-weaver-vale-17246448 |access-date=25 April 2020 |work=[[Chester Chronicle]]}}</ref>
=== SuspensionFirst term === ▼In October 2017, Amesbury stated that he supports the eventual implementation of [[proportional representation]] at elections and [[Reform of the House of Lords|reform]] of the [[House of Lords]] to make its membership mainly elected.<ref name="auto" />
Amesbury was elected as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-06-09 |title=Election results 2017: Labour gains Weaver Vale, Warrington South and Crewe and Nantwich |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304 |access-date=2024-10-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He defeated the incumbent [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP, [[Graham Evans, Baron Evans of Rainow|Graham Evans]], with almost 52% of the vote.
Amesbury has described his politics as "[[Centre-left politics|left of centre]]" and "pragmatic Labour".<ref name="auto" /> He supports electoral reform including [[proportional representation]], and voted to remain in the [[2016 EU membership referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDougall |first=John |date=12 November 2019 |title=Here's the Labour candidate's policies for Weaver Vale |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/general-election-2019-weaver-vale-17246448 |access-date=25 April 2020 |work=[[Chester Chronicle]]}}</ref>
He was named [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] in the Shadow [[Department for Work and Pensions]] team in January 2018, and in July of the same year was promoted to Shadow Minister for Employment for that department.<ref name=parliament-career>{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4667/career |title=Mike Amesbury |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref>
From 2017 to 2018, Amesbury was a member of the [[Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee]]. He was appointed [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to [[Debbie Abrahams]], the [[Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary]], in January 2018. He was promoted to become Shadow [[Minister of State for Employment|Employment Minister]] in July 2018.
In March 2019, Amesbury apologised for having shared an [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] caricature on [[Facebook]] in 2013, stating “I apologise unreservedly for this terrible error. I genuinely don’t recall sharing this image and I’m mortified that I did so. This appalling image image contains an antisemitic caricature and a reference to the ‘[[illuminati]]’ conspiracy theory. I would never have intentionally shared [[antisemitic trope]]s and I am sincerely sorry that I did”.<ref>{{cite news|author= Sugarman, Daniel |title=Labour Shadow Minister Mike Amesbury apologises for sharing 'antisemitic caricature' – after denying he had|work= [[The Jewish Chronicle]]|date= 13 March 2019|url= https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-shadow-minister-mike-amesbury-apologises-after-sharing-antisemitic-caricature-1.481386|access-date = 13 April 2020}}</ref> ▼
▲In March 2019, Amesbury apologised 'unreservedly' for having shared an [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] caricature on [[Facebook]] in 2013 , stating “I apologise unreservedly for this terrible error. I genuinely don’t recall sharing this image and I’m mortified that I did so. This appalling image image contains an antisemitic caricature and a reference to the ‘[[illuminati]]’ conspiracy theory. I would never have intentionally shared [[antisemitic trope]]s and I am sincerely sorry that I did”.<ref>{{cite news |author= Sugarman, Daniel |date=13 March 2019 |title=Labour Shadow Minister Mike Amesbury apologises for sharing 'antisemitic caricature' – after denying he had |work= [[The Jewish Chronicle]]|date= 13 March 2019|url= https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-shadow-minister-mike-amesbury-apologises-after-sharing-antisemitic-caricature-1.481386 |access-date = 13 April 2020 |work=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]}}</ref> He claimed that he didn't recall sharing the post, but was 'mortified' and wouldn't have done so intentionally.
At the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Amesbury was re-elected as MP for Weaver Vale with a decreased vote share of 44.9% and a decreased majority of 562.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Persons Nominated 2019 |url=https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/your-council/voting-and-elections/election-2019/documents/2019ge-nop.pdf}}</ref>
=== Second term ===
In March 2020, Amesbury put forward a [[private member's bill]] on education for a second reading. The Bill sought to reduce the cost of school uniforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill - Friday 13 March 2020 - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-13/debates/5B43E213-2C7C-44F7-85BD-C275A27F8B14/Education(GuidanceAboutCostsOfSchoolUniforms)Billhighlight=mike+amesbury |website=hansard.parliament.uk}}</ref> In April 2021, the bill became law after it made it through final reading in the [[House of Lords]] and received [[royal assent]] the following day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Scott |date=30 April 2021 |title=Northwich MP explains the purpose of his school uniform bill |url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19268320.northwich-mp-explains-purpose-school-uniform-bill/ |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=Northwich Guardian}}</ref>
At the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], he was re-elected to represent Weaver Vale with a majority of 562 votes over the Conservative candidate.
Amesbury was appointed as the Shadow [[Minister of State for Housing and Planning in(United theKingdom)|Housing Apriland 2020Planning reshuffle following [[Keir StarmerMinister]]'s [[2020in LabourApril Party2020, leadershipwhich electionwas (UK)|election]]reduced asto [[LeaderHousing offollowing thea LabourMay Party2021 (UK)|Labour leader]]reshuffle.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2020 |title=Mike Amesbury given shadow ministerial role by new Labour leader |url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/18378081.mike-amesbury-given-shadow-ministerial-role-new-labour-leader-kier-starmer/ |access-date=2021-01-05 |website=Northwich Guardian|date=14 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In the subsequent May 2021 reshuffle, his brief was reduced to the Shadow Minister for Housing, with [[Ruth Cadbury]] receiving the planning portfolio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=Sienna |date=14 May 2021 |title=Reshuffle: Keir Starmer's new Labour frontbench in full |url=https://labourlist.org/2021/05/reshuffle-keir-starmers-new-labour-frontbench-in-full/ |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=LabourList|date=14 May 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He becamechanged roles to become Shadow [[Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution|Local Government Minister]] in November 2021, but resigned in June 2022 to focus on his constituency work.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-30 |title=Mike Amesbury MP resigns from shadow minister role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-61998160 |access-date=2024-10-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Transport Committee]] from 2022 until 2023, when he returned to the front bench as Shadow [[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government|Building Safety and Homelessness Minister]] in September.<ref name="ifa-20240624">{{cite web |last=Gayne |first=Daniel |date=24 June 2024 |title=Who's who in Labour's would-be cabinet |url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing/whos-who-in-labours-would-be-cabinet/5130076.article |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=Intelligence for Architects |publisher=Building Design}}</ref>
Amesbury passed the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act in April 2021, having introduced the legislation as a [[private member's bill]] the previous year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Scott |date=30 April 2021 |title=Northwich MP explains the purpose of his school uniform bill |url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19268320.northwich-mp-explains-purpose-school-uniform-bill/ |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=Northwich Guardian}}</ref> The legislation sought to reduce the cost of school uniforms.
In July 2020, Amesbury became one of four vice-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Whistleblowing, which some campaigners have criticised on whistleblowing law reform.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the team|url=https://www.appgwhistleblowing.co.uk/members|access-date=2020-07-09|website=APPG Whistleblowing|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://thewhistler.org/home.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=The Whistler|language=en}}</ref>
In July 2023, a 56-year-old Stephen Cowellman was convicted of stalking and harassing Amesbury in his constituency of [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] between June and August 2022 . At sentencing, Cowell was handed a restraining order, a 25 day rehabilitation order, a £500 fine and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community work.<ref name="bbc-20230724">{{cite news |date=24 July 2023 |title=Stalker harassed Mike Amesbury MP in shopping centre and Costa Coffee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-66275368 |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The man's sentence included a restraining order.<ref name="bbc-20230818">{{cite news |date=18 August 2023 |title=MP Mike Amesbury's stalker handed a restraining order |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-66549230 |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref> ▼From September 2023 to May 2024 he was Shadow Minister for the [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities]], specialising in building safety and homelessness.<ref name=parliament-career/><ref name=ifa-20240624>{{cite web |url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing/whos-who-in-labours-would-be-cabinet/5130076.article |title=Who's who in Labour's would-be cabinet |last=Gayne |first=Daniel |work=Intelligence for Architects |publisher=Building Design |date=24 June 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref>
=== Third term ===
Due to the [[2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies]], Amesbury's constituency of Weaver Vale was abolished,elected andto replaced withrepresent [[Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency)|Runcorn and Helsby]]. Atat the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Amesburyfollowing wasthe elected to Parliament as MP for Runcorn and Helsby with 52.9%abolition of theits votepredecessor andWeaver aVale majority of 14,696constituency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Runcorn and Helsby Results - General Election 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001455 |access-date=9 July 2024 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Elected with a majority of almost 15,000, his [[Notional election results|notional]] majority from 2019 had been over 5,000 under the new boundaries.<ref>{{citeCite web |title=ElectionUK ResultsParliament election results: Notional election for the constituency of Runcorn and Helsby on 12 December 2019 |url=https://councillorselectionresults.halton.govparliament.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?IDelections/2443 |access-date=368&RPID=608260892024-10-31 |publisherwebsite=HaltonUK BoroughParliament Councilelection results |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Following his election, he returned to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee and joined the [[Modernisation Committee]].
▲In July 2023, 56-year-old Stephen Cowell was convicted of stalking and harassing Amesbury in his constituency of [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] between June and August 2022. At sentencing, Cowell was handed a restraining order, a 25 day rehabilitation order, a £500 fine and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community work.<ref name="bbc-20230724">{{cite news |date=24 July 2023 |title=Stalker harassed Mike Amesbury MP in shopping centre and Costa Coffee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-66275368 |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="bbc-20230818">{{cite news |date=18 August 2023 |title=MP Mike Amesbury's stalker handed a restraining order |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-66549230 |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
At about 2:15 am on 26 October 2024, Amesbury was filmed in [[Frodsham]] confronting a man who was lying on the ground.<ref name = "Kampfner ">{{cite news|url = https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/mike-amesbury-punched-constituent-bridge-row-river-toll-dmkh7f2wl|title = Man punched by Mike Amesbury in argument about bridge is named|last = Kampfner|first = Constance|date = 28 October 2024|accessdate = 28 October 2024|newspaper = [[The Times]]|url-access = subscription}}</ref> Amesbury shouted: "You won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?" [[Cheshire Police]] stated that an assault had been reported and that no arrests had been made.<ref name= "bbc-20241026 ">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qdzqjlq2ko |title=MP row is matter for police, says Phillipson |last1=Jahangir |first1=Rumeana |last2=Farley |first2=Harry |work=BBC News |date=26 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> Prior footage was subsequently released of Amesbury punching the man to the ground, and of his directing more punches as the man lay prone.<ref name="suspension2">{{cite news |title=Labour suspends MP after CCTV appears to show him punching man |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6244gk9d4po |last1=Whannel |first1=Kate |last2=Farley |first2=Harry |work=BBC News |date=27 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> Pending an investigation into the incident, the Labour Party administratively suspended Amesbury's party membership and parliamentary [[whip (politics)|whip]].<ref name="suspension">{{cite news |title=Labour suspends Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury over punch video |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/labour-suspends-runcorn-mp-mike-30241653 |last1=Haslam |first1=Ben |last2=Thorp |first2=Liam |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=27 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="suspension2"/> Witnesses later said that the man had initially engaged Amesbury in a conversation about a local bridge which would be closed during winter, before the men's interactions became "heated".<ref name = Kampfner/>▼▲At about 2:15 am on 26 October 2024, Amesbury was filmed in [[Frodsham]] confronting a man who was lying on the ground.<ref name = Kampfner>{{cite news|url = https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/mike-amesbury-punched-constituent-bridge-row-river-toll-dmkh7f2wl|title = Man punched by Mike Amesbury in argument about bridge is named|last = Kampfner|first = Constance|date = 28 October 2024|accessdate = 28 October 2024|newspaper = [[The Times]]|url-access = subscription}}</ref> Amesbury shouted: "You won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?" [[Cheshire Police]] stated that an assault had been reported and that no arrests had been made.<ref name=bbc-20241026>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qdzqjlq2ko |title=MP row is matter for police, says Phillipson |last1=Jahangir |first1=Rumeana |last2=Farley |first2=Harry |work=BBC News |date=26 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> Prior footage was subsequently released of Amesbury punching the man to the ground, and of his directing more punches as the man lay prone.<ref name="suspension2">{{cite news |title=Labour suspends MP after CCTV appears to show him punching man |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6244gk9d4po |last1=Whannel |first1=Kate |last2=Farley |first2=Harry |work=BBC News |date=27 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> Pending an investigation into the incident, the Labour Party administratively suspended Amesbury's party membership and parliamentary [[whip (politics)|whip]].<ref name="suspension">{{cite news |title=Labour suspends Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury over punch video |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/labour-suspends-runcorn-mp-mike-30241653 |last1=Haslam |first1=Ben |last2=Thorp |first2=Liam |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=27 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="suspension2"/> Witnesses later said that the man had initially engaged Amesbury in a conversation about a local bridge which would be closed during winter, before the men's interactions became "heated".<ref name = Kampfner/>
Pending an investigation into the incident, the Labour Party administratively suspended Amesbury's party membership and parliamentary [[whip (politics)|whip]].<ref name="suspension">{{cite news |title=Labour suspends Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury over punch video |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/labour-suspends-runcorn-mp-mike-30241653 |last1=Haslam |first1=Ben |last2=Thorp |first2=Liam |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=27 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="suspension2" /> Witnesses later said that the man had initially engaged Amesbury in a conversation about a local bridge which would be closed during winter, before the men's interactions became "heated".<ref name="Kampfner" /> Maxine Thompson-Curl, director of the One Punch UK charity, whose son died after being punched in the head in 2011, said she could not bear to watch the CCTV footage of the incident.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8xnn7vp8zo</ref>
==Personal life==
Amesbury is married and has a son; his wife is from [[Runcorn]], [[Cheshire]].<ref name="bbc-20180906">{{cite news |date=6 September 2018 |title=Cockapoo named Corbyn tops Westminster dog vote |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45427667 |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref> His wife is from [[Runcorn]], [[Cheshire]]. His family own a dog named [[Jeremy Corbyn|Corbyn]] and a cat named [[Karl Marx|Marx]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kAH2w6j99g |title=E30: Mike Amesbury MP - #MeetTheMPs |date=2018-04-17 |last=Meet The MPs |access-date=2024-10-30 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He is a supporter of [[Manchester United F.C.]]<ref name="auto" />
He suffered from depression in the late 2000s, which resulted in behaviour of 'self-destruction' and almost ended his marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amesbury |first=Mike |date=2014-10-21 |title=Manchester councillor: My secret battle with depression |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/news-opinion/manchester-councillor-secret-battle-depression-7972201 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> Amesbury has since received medical support for depression.
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
==References==
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