This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21796157
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| MP Eric Joyce arrested after reports of Parliament bar disturbance | MP Eric Joyce arrested after reports of Parliament bar disturbance |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MP Eric Joyce spent the night in custody at a central London police station after an alleged drunken brawl at a House of Commons bar. | |
| The independent MP for Falkirk is still being held by police after the reported fracas during a karaoke night at the Sports and Social Club. | |
| Officers were called to a disturbance just before 22:30 GMT on Thursday. | |
| Mr Joyce, 52, was convicted of assault in a parliamentary bar last year, and later resigned from the Labour Party. | |
| 'Policeman's hat' | 'Policeman's hat' |
| The Sports and Social Club was said to be packed at the time of the incident. | |
| Tony Grew, from the PoliticsHome website, witnessed the alleged altercation, telling ITV News he saw the MP on the ground "wrestling with two police officers". | Tony Grew, from the PoliticsHome website, witnessed the alleged altercation, telling ITV News he saw the MP on the ground "wrestling with two police officers". |
| "There were around at least 40 or 50 parliamentary staff, shocked, watching this melee as it occurred. | "There were around at least 40 or 50 parliamentary staff, shocked, watching this melee as it occurred. |
| "Bar staff were trying to push people back, telling them to stand back and let the police do their work," added Mr Grew. | "Bar staff were trying to push people back, telling them to stand back and let the police do their work," added Mr Grew. |
| "I can vividly remember a policeman's hat rolling on the ground towards me as I was watching this scene unfold." | "I can vividly remember a policeman's hat rolling on the ground towards me as I was watching this scene unfold." |
| Mr Grew suggested the altercation could have occurred because Mr Joyce became upset he was not allowed to take a glass outside into the smoking area. | Mr Grew suggested the altercation could have occurred because Mr Joyce became upset he was not allowed to take a glass outside into the smoking area. |
| MPs have expressed concern for Mr Joyce's welfare on Twitter. | MPs have expressed concern for Mr Joyce's welfare on Twitter. |
| 'Sad news' | |
| Conservative Penny Mordaunt said: "MPs done great stuff for mental health but must ensure that colleagues who need help get it, esp if they are now sans party." | Conservative Penny Mordaunt said: "MPs done great stuff for mental health but must ensure that colleagues who need help get it, esp if they are now sans party." |
| Former GP Sarah Wollaston, who has led Tory calls for a minimum alcohol unit price, said: "Eric Joyce is just one of hundreds of thousands who have lost control of their drinking. Westminster is blind to drinking problems." | Former GP Sarah Wollaston, who has led Tory calls for a minimum alcohol unit price, said: "Eric Joyce is just one of hundreds of thousands who have lost control of their drinking. Westminster is blind to drinking problems." |
| But Dennis Canavan, who was an MP and MSP for Falkirk, said that it was time for Mr Joyce to stand down. | But Dennis Canavan, who was an MP and MSP for Falkirk, said that it was time for Mr Joyce to stand down. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Well, this is sad news and this is sad for Eric Joyce, but it is even sadder for the people of Falkirk who for over a year now have no effective representation in Parliament and they definitely don't deserve this. | He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Well, this is sad news and this is sad for Eric Joyce, but it is even sadder for the people of Falkirk who for over a year now have no effective representation in Parliament and they definitely don't deserve this. |
| "It is time to go for the sake of his constituents and for his own sake, he obviously has a problem and he needs help for that problem." | "It is time to go for the sake of his constituents and for his own sake, he obviously has a problem and he needs help for that problem." |
| 'Personal shame' | |
| Asked whether the prime minister felt Mr Joyce could continue as an MP, David Cameron's official spokesman told a regular Westminster media briefing: "That is a matter for Mr Joyce." | |
| Following the fracas in February last year, Mr Joyce, a former soldier, announced he would not seek re-election in 2015. | Following the fracas in February last year, Mr Joyce, a former soldier, announced he would not seek re-election in 2015. |
| After admitting four counts of assault, he was given a 12-month community order in March that included a Friday-to-Sunday curfew and a three-month pub ban. He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,400 in compensation to his victims. | |
| During the brawl in the Strangers' Bar, Mr Joyce headbutted Tory MP Stuart Andrew and attacked three other politicians. | |
| While offering an apology in the Commons over the incident, he said: "Clearly I have a number of personal issues to address, and you can be assured that this will take place." | |
| Speaking outside court, after pleading guilty to assault in March last year, Mr Joyce said the fight was a "matter of considerable personal shame" and that the punishment was fair. | |
| "Drink was an aggravating factor, there's no question about that," he said. | |
| "It's something I have to deal with personally. Not everyone who drinks gets involved in fights and certainly when they are my age." |