Keir Starmer has a problem with women, says MP who has quit Labour
GuardianOCT 2024
UK: Labour MP Suspended After Attack Captured on CCTV
Above: Mike Amesbury, formerly a Labour MP, speaks during a rally in 2021. Image copyright: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Shocking CCTV footage has exposed completely unacceptable behavior from a politician who initially attempted to twist the incident into an account of self-defense. Amesbury is not fit to be an MP and should, without question, resign from his position immediately.
Narrative B
Personal accounts present Amesbury as a kind-hearted man who reacted badly following consistent threatening and abusive behavior by a member of the public. While Amesbury's behavior was wrong, a long history of deadly attacks against UK politicians must be acknowledged when attempting to understand why an MP would respond in this way.