Advertisement

Assault MP Eric Joyce Quits Labour Party

Assault MP Eric Joyce Quits Labour Party

Eric Joyce has resigned from the Labour Party after admitting attacking four politicians during a drunken evening in a House of Commons bar.

The MP for Falkirk, in a personal statement to the Commons, said he had handed his resignation to party leader Ed Miliband.

The politician had already been suspended from the party after he was charged over the fracas in the Strangers Bar on February 22.

Labour sources made clear to Sky News he would face expulsion after he admitted four counts of assault in court last Friday.

In the Commons, Mr Joyce admitted his behaviour had fallen "egregiously below what is required of a member of this house or indeed anyone anywhere".

He apologised to the Commons as a whole and then personally to his victims, as well as to the police officers who attended the scene.

"Clearly I have a number of personal issues to address and you can be assured that this will take place," he told MPs.

Mr Joyce, 51, was handed a 12-month community order, fined £3,000 and told to pay £350 to each of his victims plus costs after pleading guilty last week .

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how he had launched into a frenzied attack after shouting that the bar was "full of f****** Tories".

Tory MP Stuart Andrew was headbutted during the melee, which also saw Mr Joyce brawl with Tory councillors Luke Mackenzie and Ben Maney and the Labour whip Phillip Wilson.

When police arrived, they found tables and chairs upturned and Mr Joyce smelling "strongly of alcohol and his eyes were glazed". Prosecutors said he was "hammered".

The court was told he had shouted "You can't touch me, I'm an MP" at police after the attack before he was led away.