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Yorkshire Tory MP ‘headbutted’ in fracas at Commons bar
Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew
TORY MP Stuart Andrew was left nursing a headache after a disturbance in a House of Commons bar during which he was allegedly headbutted by a fellow MP.
The Pudsey MP was left with blood pouring from his nose after the fracas in Parliament’s most famous drinking spot – Strangers bar – which saw Labour MP Eric Joyce arrested by police.
Mr Andrew was with Elmet and Rothwell MP Alec Shelbrooke and Brigg and Goole’s Andrew Percy when the incident happened at about 10.30pm on Wednesday night, shortly after a delegation including the Speaker of the Canadian Parliament had left the bar.
Other Labour politicians were left appalled, and Falkirk MP Mr Joyce was yesterday suspended by the party as he was questioned by officers at Belgravia Police Station on suspicion of assault.
Mr Andrew, who confirmed he was pressing charges and insisted “I’m ok” in a message on Twitter, was in Parliament yesterday complaining of a headache but otherwise bearing no visible scars from the incident, telling colleagues he had “no idea” what had sparked it.
Police interviewed Mr Andrew in the afternoon along with a string of other MPs including Mr Percy who were quizzed as witnesses.
Strangers is a popular Commons bar where MPs often take guests, and a number of politicians were still there after the Commons sitting finished just after 7.45pm.
Mr Andrew, who won Pudsey from Labour at the last general election, was sitting at a table towards the rear when the incident took place.
Mr Shelbrooke and fellow Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price are said to have tried to tackle Mr Joyce, while Mr Percy, who had returned to the bar moments before, went to summon police.
Commons Speaker John Bercow said he took the matter “very seriously” but warned MPs not to discuss the incident in the chamber during yesterday’s sitting, while Mr Andrew said it was a “matter for the police”.
A Labour Party spokesman said: “This is an extremely serious incident. We have suspended Eric Joyce pending the results of the police investigation.”
Mr Joyce, MP for Falkirk since December 2000, served in the Army Education Corps before pursuing a career in politics and served as an aide to Labour Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth before quitting after expressing concerns over the war in Afghanistan.
Mr Andrew, who lives in Guiseley, has been leading a campaign to save the Leeds children’s heart surgery unit and was one of a string of Tory MPs in West Yorkshire to win fiercely-contested marginal seats in 2010.
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Sunday 20 May 2012
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Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
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tug wilson
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:37 AMVeritas22. Have to agree, it is good to see the House of Commons Bars doing very well when over 120 Pubs and Clubs are being forced out of Business mainly due to the ill thought out Smoking Ban, the Pubs have never recovered from the 2007 total Ban, this Conservative Government promised Change, they promised to get rid of silly Health and Safety laws, Cameron promised to Break down the Barriers to Business, we have seen Nothing yet from him, but it is good to see our Hard working MPs getting plenty of Social time in Commons Bars, but it also seems they cannot even handle that. Maybe a BAN is now in order.
Veritas22
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:01 AMTIME TO CALL TIME ON M.P’S Yet again, it seems to be one law for the MPs and one for us. Police were called to a disturbance at a House of Commons Strangers Bar (reserved for MPs and their guests) at about 10.50pm Wednesday 21st February 2012. Falkirk's Labour MP Eric Joyce) was held at a central London police station and has now been charged with assualt. Bars in Fire stations and Police stations were closed some years ago, as it was deemed unacceptable to have licensed bars in public sector work premises. However this rule does not apply to the most important public sector work place in the country – Our own parliament where crucial decisions are made for the good of the nation. ALSO The government is set to introduce legislation to ensure that alcohol is not sold too cheaply BUT I understand that the House of Commons bars are subsidised and alcohol is sold extremely cheap. It is time now to call time on licensed bars in the Houses of Parliament and lead by example. Prime Minister David Cameron has called for bars, supermarkets and the drinks industry in England to do more to help ensure responsible drinking. (Quote from: BBC News England Home Page 15 February 2012 Last updated at 17:14)
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