A BRITISH Labour MP has been suspended from the party following allegations he assaulted a rival MP in a parliamentary bar last night.

Eric Joyce, MP for Falkirk, was arrested yesterday evening on suspicion of assault. A Scotland Yard spokesperson this afternoon confirmed to the Press Association that a man aged in his 50s who was arrested at the Strangers’ Bar last night is still in custody for questioning.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party said it was an “extremely serious incident”, adding that Joyce has been suspended “pending the results of the police investigation.”

The Conservative MP allegedly assaulted by Joyce, Stuart Andrew, today responded to queries on Twitter with: “Thank you. I’m ok.”

The BBC reports that the incident was briefly raised in the House of Commons today, with Speaker John Bercow confirming that he had been informed “by the Serjeant at Arms that the honourable member for Falkirk has been detained in police custody.” He added that the matter is being treated very seriously and is under investigation.

Bercow requested that the incident would not be mentioned further in the Commons today.