LONDON – A British lawmaker who admitted assaulting others in a drunken bar brawl in Parliament has resigned from the opposition Labour Party.
Eric Joyce submitted his party resignation Monday and apologized for the brawl, saying he "had a number of personal issues to address."
Joyce, 51, pleaded guilty last week to four charges of assault on Feb. 22 when he head-butted Conservative lawmaker Stuart Andrew and also assaulted two local Conservative officials and a Labour colleague. He complained there were "too many" Conservatives in the bar.
Joyce was fined $6,900, got a weekend curfew and was banned from entering pubs for three months.
Joyce says he will continue to serve until the 2015 election but as an independent.
