MP Eric Joyce arrested again after brawl in Commons bar

ERIC JOYCE is under mounting pressure to step down as the MP for Falkirk following his arrest last night after a brawl at the House of Commons.

More than a dozen police officers were called to Westminster's Sports and Social Club after a karaoke night turned into a fracas in which Joyce was involved. A witness told the Daily Mail the 52-year-old former soldier had a dispute with a man in the bar, then followed him outside where a fight broke out.

When police intervened, Joyce "brought two officers to the ground and knocked another's hat off".

Joyce is no stranger to controversy. He pleaded guilty last year to charges of common assault after headbutting a Tory MP in the Strangers Bar in Parliament. He was fined £3,000 and resigned from the Labour party. Joyce conceded he had been "hammered" on red wine, apologised to the Commons, and promised to address the "personal issues" he blamed for the incident.

Early reports suggest the police had to call for reinforcements during last night's incident and Joyce was pinned to the ground before he was handcuffed.

A witness to the incident said: "It was like something you would see outside a very raucous bar or club on a weekend."
It is believed Joyce arrived at the venue earlier in the evening after drinking in a Westminster pub with one of his staff.

The Metropolitan police say a man was arrested and "remains in custody while inquiries continue”.

Joyce has said he will stand down at the next election as the MP for Falkirk, which he represents as an independent. But the latest episode increases pressure on him to "step down early", says The Independent. ·