Eric Joyce resigns from Labour front bench

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

After being arrested for failing to provide a breath test, Eric Joyce has stepped down from the Labour front bench. His resignation is understood to have been accepted by Ed Miliband. Joyce told the Scotsman he was “deeply ashamed of his actions” adding:

“I have been incredibly stupid and rightly suffered the penalty for it. I want to apologise unreservedly to those I have let down.”

Joyce had stood in the shadow cabinet elections back in October, but polled the fewest votes of any candidate, with support from only ten MPs. He also gained nortoriety in the House of Commons expenses scandal when it emerged he had claimed more than any MP. However Ed Miliband offered him the junior Northern Ireland brief, which Joyce accepted and had been working on until now. It is not yet known who will replace him on the front bench.