DISGRACED MP Eric Joyce was spared jail but given a bar ban after he punched and headbutted four politicians and told police: ‘You can’t touch me I’m an MP.’
The Falkirk MP admitted attacking Little Thurrock councillor, Ben Maney and MP Stephen Metcalfe’s political assistant, Luke MacKenzie.
Joyce drunkenly attacked three Conservatives and a Labour party whip after going berserk at the House of Commons Stranger’s Bar reports courtnews.co.uk.
Westminster Magistrates Court heard he snarled: ‘There are too many Tories in this bar’ before launching his tirade.
And when the police arrived to arrest him he called them ‘c***s’ and scrawled notes about a ‘Tory nation’ in officers’ notebooks.
Today he pleaded guilty to assaulting Tory MP Stuart Andrew, Tory councillors Ben Maney and Luke MacKenzie and Labour Whip Phillip Wilson on February 22.
Joyce, the Labour MP for Falkirk, was sentenced to a 12-month community order. He was fined £3,000, ordered to pay £350 compensation to each victim and banned from pubs until June 9.
He is also banned from leaving the UK without the court’s permission until September 9 and will be subject to a home curfew between 8pm and 4am Friday to Sunday.
But he insists he intends to stay on as an MP, despite the fact he faces deselection from the Labour Party.
District Judge Howard Riddle said: ‘These were no less than four separate assaults; two of those by headbutt.
‘These were not just your fellow MPs but also staff. People working in bars have a right to safety from you as well as other people.
‘What you have done not only caused physical harm but also real distress.
‘It has not only brought shame on yourself but it has also damaged the reputation on your place of work – where the laws of this country are made.’
Zoe Martin, prosecuting, told Westminster Magistrates Court the mood in the bar had been ‘happy and friendly’.
One of Joyce’s guests Stuart Niven, an amateur opera singer, burst into song attracting the attention of revellers.
But Joyce, who was described as looking ‘dead in the eyes’ approached Tory MP Alex Shelbrooke and told him: ‘Don’t ever look at any of my guests again.’
Fellow Conservative MP Andrew Percy then asked Joyce to return to his seat.
Ms Martin said: ‘Joyce refused saying ‘no.’ Joyce then proceeded to push Mr Percy away saying “There are too many Tories in this bar.”
‘Another witness said he said “There are too many f**king Tories in this bar.” There was a reaction of shock.’
When Tory MP Stuart Andrew told him “you can’t behave in that way”, Joyce grabbed him by the tie and Mr Andrew protested: ‘You can’t treat an MP like that in a place like this’.
‘Mr Joyce swung for Mr Shelbrooke with a clenched fist but he ducked,’ said Miss Martin.
‘Mr MacKenzie tried to get between Shelbrooke and Joyce. Mr Shelbrooke was backing off but Mr Joyce came forward delivering a glancing blow to Mr MacKenzie’s nose.
‘Witnesses say Mr Joyce was generally lashing out. Ben Maney tried to restrain Mr Joyce pulling him back and turning him away from Mr Andrew.
‘Then looking Mr Maney straight in the eye he head butted him causing a cut to the lip.’
The court heard that at one point Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price told Joyce: ‘If you are going to punch my staff, you are going to have to punch me first. You don’t want to punch a lady.’
Labour whip Mr Wilson went over to Joyce and saying: ‘Calm down Eric – what’s going on?’
Joyce ‘spun round’ and hit him on the chin with a clenched fist, knocking him into a chair.
At this point police arrived in time to witness Joyce headbutt Mr Andrew, who sustained a nosebleed and concussion.
Joyce then told officers: ‘You can’t touch me I’m an MP’.
Witnesses said ‘he seemed to flip’ struggling with police and calling them ‘c**ts’.
In the scuffle he managed to smash a window before being taken to Belgravia police station.
Jeremy Dein QC, representing Joyce, said the process of ‘demolition of reputation’ began as soon as police handcuffed Joyce.
He said the Falkirk MP and Army major, who has a degree in philosophy, had been working hard all day and hadn’t eaten before drinking three or four glasses of wine.
‘He has not just let himself down and his family he has also let down all those people who elected him and supported him,’ said Mr Dein.
‘For a few seconds he has wreaked havoc on his life and those around him.
‘He is unreservedly apologetic. He could not be more realistic and contrite about the matter and would like to apologise to the court in a way which totally reflects what has been an appalling way to behave.’
Joyce, of (20) Union Street, West Lothian, pleaded guilty to four counts of common assault.
interesting to get some information on this incident. i am actually interested in what MP Eric Joyce meant when he said ‘“There are too many f**king Tories in this bar.” and why was there a reaction of shock? Cllr Ben Maney used to hold the portfolio for public protection, so i was interested in this incident when it was first mentioned on Your Thurrock. I’d make the point Maney should have known to call security or the police rather than intervene.
Clearly MP Eric Joyce must be given a clear message that this type of behaviour is not acceptable but a general observation is that the comment ‘there are too many f**king Tories in this bar.” seemed like he felt under threat? and i was also interested in why he said to some tories ‘Don’t ever look at any of my guests again.’ I got a sense that there was some tension in the air?
I have heard that Cllr Ben Maney is rather disliked for this extremist and far right views, and some people suggest his views as very close to those of the racist BNP. I personally dont know him enough to judge. i have heard general comment that he has made a point of standing against Labour policies like Human rights, and some people have said he might understand the value of these rights now. i have heard some people say he got what he deserved. But i have to say i don’t think we can find acceptable anyone head butting Cllr Maney or the other tories no matter how much people might dislike him or their policies.
It must have been a very frightening experience for Mr Maney to have such a large head strike his mouth -so large his lip split.
This incident has highlighted how the borough’s MP is helping the borough’s unemployment problem by giving someone their first real job since leaving education thus helping to reduce the NEET figure for Thurrock.
Dave Peterson Tilbury- i agree, it must have been very frightening experience for Cllr Ben Maney to get a head butt and split lip. It seems so unfair that he seems to have been beated up so badly. I agree with Gary heart that some people will be saying he got what he deserved and other very unkind things about Cllr Ben Maney now. But i dont think he should have been disgraced in this way. it must have been so embarrassing for him and his other tory colleagues. Dave i did like your last comment and i agree- a very innovative approach to tackling the NEET figure in Thurrock.
so for four counts of assault which at least two should have been ABH, criminal damage, threatening behaviour towards Police and he gets off with a 12 month community order, so where is the justice for this unprovoked attack??
How this thug, and yes he is just that, thinks he can continue as aan MP just shows how pathetic this person is, he should be thrown out of the party and never be able to hold publc office again.
Lambo good point but i wonder if those involved will take a lesson from this? i was interested to hear in the points from Gary that issues like human rights have been challenged by politiicans like Cllr Ben Maney. This is probably why the conservatives in Thurrock are often described as the new BNP. I could say that these types of views are typical tory far right politics (but this is not the time) but because of these types of far right views we have a lot of issues in Thurrock, because these politicans dont understand the realities in the community. Maybe there is a point that justice, equality and fairness is something we should all take seriously. A 12 months community order is not enough for this act of violence and like theThurrock conseratives, Cllr Ben Maney or hate the lot of them. We should not tolerate this type of violence.
He should be sacked. End of Story. Labour have more talent in their ranks nationally who could take over from this guy but then they don’t want to run the risk of losing he seat in a by-election to the SNP so they appear stuck in the middle. I agree with everyone else, you do not lash out at someone because their politics are different to your own. You have to respect everyones views.
To be right wing does not mean you automatically agree with the BNP – some people are right wing in certain issues and less so in others. I could easily say that the local Labour group are bordering on a loony left communist style of socialism because of a couple members of that group who are obsessed with race, equality and diversity but I don’t see the point. As for Labour and Human Rights….thats another story!
Bernard87 point taken not all those with far right views agree with the BNP. But in the case of Cllr Ben Maney most people seem to have a view that his politiical position is not too far from the BNP’s. I agree that on the other end you might say we have the loony left obsessed with race, equality etc. But then Bernard87 if you did say that we’d know you were also one of those far right sneak around with a bedsheet over your head type of guy. But we dont want to go down that road do we? the point is any type of violence or extermist view is not helpful, whether in a bar brawl or sneaking around with white bedsheets on your head. The point is the same mindset is behind both these types of incidents and should not be tolerated. So the actions of this MP is wrong and i think the likes of Cllr Ben Maney should understand that just like he didnt like a thump in the mouth because he was a conservative local residents dont like abuse for being Disabled ( i remember the recent conservative twitter comment) Gay etc etc ‘call that loony left communist style of socialism if you will’, but many others will call that basic fairness and dignity which i think you will agree Cllr Maney needed some of that when this brawl broke out and he got a head butt in the mouth.
…..And in the real world home owners will start having higher interest rates to pay for their homes, disabled are now being put out of work and under the benefit spotlight, the police are warning of further cuts, the health service being privatised via stealth, people losing their jobs as firms struggle to cope, our youngsters can’t find work either yet our high living MP’s and their lapdogs are having a good old time that went wrong in the house of commons bar. Are we supposed to respect these people who hold high positions of office ?. What a bunch of jokers.
Colin barnes as usual a very important and valid point you make. Some people want to make fun of hard working people that are struggling, and forget that these cuts, lack of jobs etc are pushing many families to breaking point. Call that loony left if you will but trisca is right i would call it sticking up for working families and simple fairness. I dont expect conservatives to get this, but come May elections lets see which way wins. Should we respect these people in high office you ask – i dont think so, I think you said it best ‘what a bunch of jokers’.
Trisca, you contradict yourself. You say that violence should not be tolerated but in the same breath seem to imply that because of Cllr Maneys Conservative views he had this coming? You’re entitled to your opinion.
Trisca is at it again, spinning this story of a Labour thug into a story about the political leanings of Cllr Maney. Nowhere in the story does it mention that Cllr Maney was head butted, that particular fate seems to have fallen on a Mr Andrew. Mr Maney is mentioned only in the context of trying to stop Joyce from harming anybody else. Trisca, and Gary Heart for that matter, have twisted the story completely. To what purpose? The story is what it is, man goes mad and attacks other people, this isn’t about politics and it is a shame that there are people out there who would spin any story to deflect any kind of blame from a Labourite.
Well Said Gray64
gray64 i know you tories will spin anything to try and make a point. But how about you try reading the article it clearly says:
‘Witnesses say Mr Joyce was generally lashing out. Ben Maney tried to restrain Mr Joyce pulling him back and turning him away from Mr Andrew.‘Then looking Mr Maney straight in the eye he head butted him causing a cut to the lip.’
So bearing this in mind i commented that whether it is the extermist views of Cllr Maney or this violence incident i said: ‘both these types of incidents and should not be tolerated’ so i think it is the tory hopefuls like you that are trying to score political points. This incident cant be tolerated but nor can the far right politics of some of these local tories.
Trisca, I apologise for misreading the article, I stand corrected. You are sadly mistaken about me being a Tory though, I have said on here many times that I loathe party politics and I don’t trust any Politician or take at face value anything a politician says. I have said many times on here that people should vote for their local independent MP or Cllr in order to get rid of the two main parties. I still take issue with your raising the point of Mr Maney’s alleged Extremist Views, that had nothing whatsoever to do with the story and it was a blatant attempt by you to turn the story into something it wasn’t.
Unlike Councillor Kielly the often absent Labour Councillor for Ockendon ward whom we can safely call a loony leftie can anyone realistically call the diminutive bachelor and sometimes Labour punchbag, Councillor Maney, as having BNP like views?
If he does where is the proof? Has he published any leaflets, made any speeches or written any articles anywhere expressing such views? There is probably very little anywhere to show what his views are on any issues (apart from opposing placing a stonking great sports hub on or having Grays Athletics build a stadium on Blackshots playing fields).
Agree with gray64 I always vote for an independent at local elections If a candidate is standing.I just do not have any time for the main political parties locally as they are all governed by dictates from their respective party HQ.
Lets have real local councillors who care about the community rather then smal time political wannabes scoring points off each other and massaging their huge egos.
As for some of the comments on this particular thread regarding an assault and drunken behaviour by a serving MP and then the impication that the recipient of the violence had it coming to him because of certain political views is simply staggering,
Grays Athletic will not be building a stadium on Blackshots playing fields the fields are for the public and are protected.
Grays64 apology accepted and it shows at least an honest debate. i have to agree with your point about local politics and the more neutral independants. My point about Cllr Ben Maney is to point out that many residents describe him as holding far right extermist views. I give him the benefit of the doub.t lets hope he and other tories can show some concern for fairness and what is right for Thurrock.