Should Eric Joyce MP be asked to resign as Labour MP for Falkirk?
Wisdom has it that he won’t…and shouldn’t. Even though the MP for Falkirk allegedly head-butted and attacked fellow MPs after a day drinking at the taxpayers’ expense in the subsidised Strangers Bar in the House of Commons. Now, in the absence of an unequivocal order to quit by the new leader of Scottish Labour, community leaders are having to do the dirty work instead.
At the weekend, Jim Blackwood, a Labour member of Falkirk Council, told Scotland on Sunday: “As far as I am concerned, (Joyce) is no longer a Labour MP and I am happy to stand up and say that we should have a by-election.”
Former independent Falkirk MP Dennis Canavan – whose resignation paved the way for Joyce’s 2000 election – said: “I am saddened to hear about this latest incident but not surprised, given his track record. I don’t think he is a fit and proper person to represent Scottish people and the electors of Falkirk deserve better.”
Amen to that.
But why is Scottish Labour incapable of forcing action?
Joyce faces a court hearing after allegedly shoving Conservative backbencher Andrew Percy against a wall, head-butting Conservative MP Stuart Andrew and punching Tory Alec Shelbrooke and MP Phil Wilson – a Labour colleague. Eyewitness accounts suggest the MP had to be sat on by five police officers and yelled “This place is full of f***ing Tories,” before being taken away to spend a night in police cells.
Comments