The BBC internal wires are circulating this account of how last night’s Joyce episode began. Look North reporter Joe Inwood’s report has worked its way into Guido’s inbox:

• Andrew Percy MP was hosting an event for the Speaker of the Canadian Parliament, at which Stuart Andrew MP was a guest.
• The night had progressed, and the speaker (and family) had left.
• Eric Joyce was also in the bar, and was having a conversation with Alec Shelbrooke MP.
• Andrew Percy had gone to the bar and on his way back asked to get past AS and EJ.
• EJ was then heard (by eye witness) to say something along the “no you can’t. I’m fed up with this place. It’s full of f###ing Tories.”
• Somehow this confrontation ended with Andrew Percy being pushed to a wall.
• At this point Stuart Andrew stood up and told him (EJ) to stop.
• IT IS ALLEGED THAT At this point EJ then grabbed SA by the tie, pushing him up against a wall.
• AP had gone to get the police, who promptly surrounded Joyce, although did not restrain him.
• Eric Joyce IS SAID TO HAVE objected to his treatment, saying they could not do this to an MP.
• IT IS CLAIMED THAT he then, whilst surrounded by police launched himself at SA, head butting him and punching him.

And the rest they say is history.

They go on to confirm that this window was broken during Joyce’s removal.

Tomorrow we might write about something else…

Interviews are currently going on in Committee Rooms 16/17/18 for members and staffers who witnessed last night’s fun and games. There is also some speculation that Joyce  has been moved from Belgravia to another police station. Either way, he’s been in custody for over sixteen hours now. Tea Room gossip is gathering pace too…

Though Guido stresses this is just gossip, there is is talk that Joyce took a swing at the desk sergeant when he was being booked in last night…

Anyone remember what he was drinking?

UPDATE:

https://twitter.com/#!/MichaelLCrick/status/172728011471327233

Strangers’ Bar staff have been called to Belgravia Police Station at 3pm to give further witness statements about the Eric Joyce brawl. Other MPs who witnessed the affair, as well as staffers and other drinkers will also be interviewed in the coming hours.

Guido understands that the really bad news for Eric Joyce is that as many as eight officers witnessed him breaking out of police custody to return to the fray. Police sources indicate that the main headbutting incident happened after the police had first intervened. All of the officers have given statements this morning. There is further bad news for Joyce in the fact that one of the victims, possibly Tory MP Stuart Andrew, was left concussed from the incident, meaning that the charge could be Actual Bodily Harm rather than assault. And that’s by-election territory…

UPDATE: ITV’s Alex Forrest says the Members are being interviewed in their Westminster offices.

Tonight Guido and Tamasin Cave from Spinwatch are proposing the motion for debate that “Lobbyists Are Paid to Thwart the Democratic Will”. Mark Adams from Stand Up 4 Lobbying and Justin Fisher from the The Magna Carta Institute are opposing.

The event is taking place in Smith Square, Westminster and the audience will probably be riddled with lobbyists. So if you want to attend tonight and bolster the forces of democracy, email debate@StandUp4Lobbying.org, There is free booze courtesy of Ellwood and Atfield.  Full details here. See you later…

Commons co-conspirators report this morning that the broken windows near Strangers’ Bar certainly weren’t broken this time yesterday:

The now suspended Major Joyce (Education Corp) must have put up quite a struggle…

Eric Joyce shouts…

“There are too many Tories in the bar”