Disgraced ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury is standing down from Parliament after his conviction for punching a constituent.
The Runcorn & Helsby MP told the BBC on Monday that he will begin the "statutory process" of winding up his office - before resigning as "as soon as possible" - and triggering the first by-election of Sir Keir Starmer's stint in Downing Street.
Amesbury was given a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted to assaulting Paul Fellows in a late-night brawl.
He then spent three nights in jail after his initial sentencing at Chester Magistrates' Court - and has he claimed he "actually picked up some casework in prison."
"Life doesn't stop as an MP," he said.
Amesbury also said he had been dealing with death threats and a stalker before he punched Fellows - both of which raised his "anxiety levels".
He said that threats and abuse "make you on edge" - and pointed to the murder of two MPs, Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, in the last decade.
"When someone approached me at ten past two in the morning it was quite natural to be on edge and anxious - and I got it wrong.
"I just saw red - a moment of madness which I will regret for the rest of my life."
READ MORE ON THE 'SUCKER-PUNCH' MP:
Amesbury has also said he would like to apologise to Fellows in person - but did not do so as his legal proceedings unfolded.
But the "sucker-punch" victim said that the politician could have killed him, telling the Mail: "I was standing on the pavement with my hands in my pockets when he punched me in the face.
"I could easily have hit the back of my head as I fell into the road."
Now, a by-election looms in Amesbury's Cheshire seat.
In late February, Reform UK - whose candidate Jason Moorcroft finished second to Amesbury at the General Election - kicked off a campaign to force the disgraced MP to resign.
As well as demanding his resignation, Reform also looked to be gearing up for a potential by-election - a source told GB News at the time: "Every house in the constituency has already had a letter from Nigel.
"It's just about selecting a candidate. It's going to be an uphill battle - it's Labour's 16th safest seat in the country - but we're going to give it everything."
But in the weeks since, Reform UK has been rocked by internal turmoil with a fiery row between Rupert Lowe and Nigel Farage still ongoing.
Find Out More...
The Runcorn & Helsby MP told the BBC on Monday that he will begin the "statutory process" of winding up his office - before resigning as "as soon as possible" - and triggering the first by-election of Sir Keir Starmer's stint in Downing Street.
Amesbury was given a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted to assaulting Paul Fellows in a late-night brawl.
He then spent three nights in jail after his initial sentencing at Chester Magistrates' Court - and has he claimed he "actually picked up some casework in prison."
"Life doesn't stop as an MP," he said.
Amesbury also said he had been dealing with death threats and a stalker before he punched Fellows - both of which raised his "anxiety levels".
He said that threats and abuse "make you on edge" - and pointed to the murder of two MPs, Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, in the last decade.
"When someone approached me at ten past two in the morning it was quite natural to be on edge and anxious - and I got it wrong.
"I just saw red - a moment of madness which I will regret for the rest of my life."
READ MORE ON THE 'SUCKER-PUNCH' MP:
- WATCH: Former prisons minister says Mike Amesbury sentencing is 'not two tier-justice'
- Reform launches campaign against 'sucker-punch' MP as Farage plots to snatch Labour heartland - 'We'll give it everything!'
- Labour's 'ruling class' enabled Mike Amesbury to avoid prison, Farage claims
Amesbury has also said he would like to apologise to Fellows in person - but did not do so as his legal proceedings unfolded.
But the "sucker-punch" victim said that the politician could have killed him, telling the Mail: "I was standing on the pavement with my hands in my pockets when he punched me in the face.
"I could easily have hit the back of my head as I fell into the road."
Now, a by-election looms in Amesbury's Cheshire seat.
In late February, Reform UK - whose candidate Jason Moorcroft finished second to Amesbury at the General Election - kicked off a campaign to force the disgraced MP to resign.
As well as demanding his resignation, Reform also looked to be gearing up for a potential by-election - a source told GB News at the time: "Every house in the constituency has already had a letter from Nigel.
"It's just about selecting a candidate. It's going to be an uphill battle - it's Labour's 16th safest seat in the country - but we're going to give it everything."
But in the weeks since, Reform UK has been rocked by internal turmoil with a fiery row between Rupert Lowe and Nigel Farage still ongoing.
Find Out More...