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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Labour suspends MP Eric Joyce after Commons 'assault' | Labour suspends MP Eric Joyce after Commons 'assault' |
| (about 4 hours 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. | 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 were called after reports of a disturbance on Wednesday night. | Police were called after reports of a disturbance on Wednesday night. |
| Mr Joyce, 51, remains MP for Falkirk but cannot take the Labour whip until the police investigation ends. | Mr Joyce, 51, remains MP for Falkirk but cannot take the Labour whip until the police investigation ends. |
| Speaker John Bercow has said he takes the matter "very seriously". The Conservative MP for Pudsey Stuart Andrew has alleged he was assaulted. | Speaker John Bercow has said he takes the matter "very seriously". The Conservative MP for Pudsey Stuart Andrew has alleged he was assaulted. |
| The BBC understands officers involved in the investigation returned to the Commons on Thursday evening to interview eyewitnesses. | |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said it had also been alleged that Mr Joyce - who is still in custody and has not been charged with any offences - was involved in an incident after being taken into police custody on Wednesday evening. | |
| Labour MPs say they are concerned about Mr Joyce's health and behaviour, he added, and the party is not ruling out the possibility of a by-election in Falkirk. | |
| The disturbance is believed to have happened in the Strangers Bar, which is reserved for MPs and their guests. | The disturbance is believed to have happened in the Strangers Bar, which is reserved for MPs and their guests. |
| Mr Andrew was in the bar following a Commons event organised by his Conservative colleague Andrew Percy, for the Speaker of the Canadian Parliament. | Mr Andrew was in the bar following a Commons event organised by his Conservative colleague Andrew Percy, for the Speaker of the Canadian Parliament. |
| 'Extremely serious' | '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." | 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. | 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." | "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. |