PRESSURE mounted today on brawling MP Mike Amesbury to quit the Commons as he began his jail sentence.

Mr Amesbury, MP for Runcorn and Helsby, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to punching a constituent in an alcohol-fuelled late-night confrontation.

He faces a recall petition from constituents aimed at forcing a by-election if legal appeals against his sentence fail. 

Ten per cent of the local electorate would have to sign it.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper led calls for Mr Amesbury to resign, saying: “I want to see him either obviously resign or face recall, and so that we can have a new MP in place.

“I’m making my view clear, which is that I want to see the people of Runcorn get new representation as swiftly as possible.”

Mr Amesbury was a Labour MP from 2017 until his suspension, and has since resigned from the party. 

He continues to draw his MPs’ salary while in jail.

Reform UK joined those pushing for a by-election, with chairman Zia Yusuf urging an immediate departure by Mr Amesbury. 

The hard-right party came second to Labour in last year’s general election and may fancy its chances in a fresh poll given Labour’s slump in popularity.