UK MP to quit over assault

LONDON: A lawmaker suspended from Britain´s ruling Labour party for punching a man in the street announced on Monday that he will resign as an MP, paving the way for the first electoral test of Keir Starmer´s premiership.

Mike Amesbury, who received a 10-week suspended jail sentence last month after admitting repeatedly punching the man during a late-night altercation in October, told the BBC he will “step aside at the earliest opportunity”.

His resignation from the northwest English seat of Runcorn and Helsby will trigger the first by-election since Labour swept to power in July last year. The party has since slumped in the polls.