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Labour suspends MP Eric Joyce after Commons 'assault' | Labour suspends MP Eric Joyce after Commons 'assault' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Labour MP Eric Joyce has been suspended from the party after he was arrested over allegations of an assault in a House of Commons bar. | |
Police say they detained a man in his 50s after receiving reports of an incident late on Wednesday night. | |
Labour suspended 51-year-old Falkirk MP Mr Joyce until the investigation ends. | |
Stuart Andrew, Tory MP for Pudsey, West Yorkshire, has alleged he was assaulted. Speaker John Bercow has said he takes the matter "very seriously". | |
The disturbance was reported to have happened in the Strangers Bar, which is reserved for MPs and their guests. | The disturbance was reported to have happened in the Strangers Bar, which is reserved for MPs and their guests. |
'Extremely serious' | |
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We were called at approximately 10.50pm last night to reports of a disturbance at a bar within the House of Commons. | A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We were called at approximately 10.50pm last night to reports of a disturbance at a bar within the House of Commons. |
"A man aged in his 50s was arrested by officers on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody in a central London police station. Inquiries are continuing." | "A man aged in his 50s was arrested by officers on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody in a central London police station. Inquiries are continuing." |
A Labour Party spokesman said: "This is an extremely serious incident. We have suspended Eric Joyce pending the results of the police investigation." | |
In the Commons, Speaker John Bercow said: "Members will be aware of reports of a serious incident in the House last night. I have been informed by the Serjeant at Arms that the honourable member for Falkirk has been detained in police custody. | |
"The matter is being investigated. I take this matter very seriously, as do the House authorities." | |
Mr Joyce was elected in a by-election in December 2000 and has served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to a number of government ministers since 2003. | Mr Joyce was elected in a by-election in December 2000 and has served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to a number of government ministers since 2003. |
He was PPS to the then defence secretary Bob Ainsworth until 2009, and prior to that had been a parliamentary aide to John Hutton, Mike O'Brien and Margaret Hodge. | He was PPS to the then defence secretary Bob Ainsworth until 2009, and prior to that had been a parliamentary aide to John Hutton, Mike O'Brien and Margaret Hodge. |