A BRITISH LABOUR MP has been charged with three counts of common assault after an alleged brawl at a bar inside the Houses of Parliament in London on Wednesday night.

Police confirmed that Joyce, an MP for Falkirk, was charged with the offences late last night having been held in custody for nearly 24 hours. He will now appear at West London Magistrates Court on 7 March.

The 51-year-old, who was elected to parliament in 2000, has already been suspended from the Labour Party while police investigate the incident at Stranger’s Bar in the House of Commons on Wednesday night.

“Eric Joyce, aged 51, an MP of Union Street, Bo’ness, West Lothian has been charged with three counts of common assault following an incident within the House of Commons on Wednesday February 22,”a statement said.

The allegations relate to Conservative MP for Pudsey, Stuart Andrew, a second Tory MP and a Labour whip, according to BBC News.

It quotes the House Speaker John Bercow as telling MPs yesterday that they should not discuss the incident in the chamber while investigations are ongoing: “I take this matter very seriously, as do the House authorities.”

Stranger’s Bar is one of about 20 cafes, restaurants and bars inside the world-famous Parliament building. The bar, which offers views of the River Thames, is open only to lawmakers and their invited guests, AP reports.

- additional reporting from AP