Sir Keir Starmer has described the video of a Labour MP punching someone as “shocking”, but has not commented on whether the MP should resign.
Over the weekend, footage emerged of Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, punching a man who fell to the ground and was then repeatedly hit.
Following the release of the footage, the Labour Party announced that they had suspended his membership while an investigation takes place.
In a Q&A session after a speech about the upcoming budget, Sir Keir avoided the question of whether Mr. Amesbury should step down as an MP.
“I have viewed the video footage, and it is shocking,” he stated. “We acted quickly to suspend him as a member.
“There is now a police investigation taking place, and given the circumstances, there is not much more I can comment on.”
Previous footage showed Mr. Amesbury shouting at a man on the ground, claiming he felt threatened.
In a statement, the MP explained that he felt threatened while out with friends and contacted the police to report the incident.
The most recent video depicted Mr. Amesbury punching another man, with unclear events leading up to the altercation. Three bystanders intervened as the altercation continued.
Cheshire Police confirmed that a 55-year-old man, believed to be Mr. Amesbury, was questioned under caution and released pending further investigation.