Labour MP steps down over drink-driving

A Labour MP has resigned from the party's front bench after being found guilty of drink-driving.

Eric Joyce, the MP for Falkirk who had been serving as shadow Northern Ireland minister, lost his licence for a year after an incident on Thursday night that led to him sleeping in a police cell.

He had driven up to the gatehouse of a petrochemical plant in Grangemouth at 11.15pm, where guards smelled alcohol on his breath and spotted damage to his car. They called the police but Mr Joyce refused to provide a breath sample, a crime to which he pleaded guilty in court yesterday.

In addition to his ban, Sheriff William Gallacher fined Mr Joyce £400. The duty solicitor, Willie McIntyre, said Joyce "has no recollection other than that he hit something, and immediately pulled over". He added: "The inevitable loss of his licence will be of great inconvenience to him, as is the publicity."