Labour MP arrested after bar brawl inside House of Commons
By Larisa Brown
Last updated at 3:12 AM on 23rd February 2012
A Labour MP was arrested last night after an alleged brawl in a House of Commons bar.
Eric Joyce is said to have punched several Tory MPs in the fracas just before 11pm last night. It is reported he also hit a Labour MP.
Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, was reportedly headbutted and punched in the Stranger's Bar, a Commons bar reserved for MPs and their guests.
An eyewitness told the Politics Home website that Mr Joyce, a former Army officer who represents Falkirk, pushed a Tory MP and then started punching other Conservative members seated at the back of the bar. Drinks were also allegedly thrown over some bar patrons.
Eric Joyce (left) is alleged to have headbutted and punched Stuart Andrew (right)
It is reported on the website Mr Joyce, 51, complained the bar, popular with MPs from both parties, was 'full of Tories'.
Mr Joyce was held at a central London police station on suspicion of assault. Scotland Yard confirmed officers detained a man in his 50s after being called to reports of an incident at a bar within the House of Commons at around 10.50pm last night.
A Met spokesman said: 'We were called at about 10.50pm yesterday to a disturbance at a bar at the House of Commons. A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault.'
Mr Joyce, MP for Falkirk since December 2000, served in the Army Education Corps before pursuing a career in politics.
In 2010 he resigned as shadow Northern Ireland minister after pleading guilty to failing to provide a breath test.
He lost his licence for a year and was fined £400.
From 2003 Mr Joyce served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to a number of government ministers.
Pictured in 2010 after returning home from a police cell when he failed a provide a breath test
He quit as the PPS to then defence secretary Bob Ainsworth in 2009 due to concerns over the war in Afghanistan.
He also served as a parliamentary aide to John Hutton – when he was defence secretary – Mike O'Brien and Margaret Hodge.
According to his constituency webpage, Mr Joyce has an office in Denny and an office in Portcullis House, Westminster.
During his time in Westminster he has held an interest in defence and military issues due to his army background, the website adds.
Mr Joyce set an extraordinary record by claiming more than £200,000 expenses in a single year in 2010.
He billed the taxpayer a staggering £200,986, despite having previously pledged to curb his spending.
Nicknamed 'Airmiles Eric', Mr Joyce clocked up £45,411 in travel costs. The figure is equal to nearly £1,600 for every week Parliament sits.
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