Alan Johnson's ex-police bodyguard has been suspended over allegations that he had an affair with the former shadow chancellor's wife.
The episode led Mr Johnson to quit Labour's frontbench, forcing leader Ed Miliband to reshuffle his top team less than four months into the job.
Close protection officer Pc Paul Rice guarded Mr Johnson when he was home secretary. He is thought to have worked for Theresa May since she took over at the Home Office last May.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "A Metropolitan Police Service Specialist Operations Police Constable has today, Friday 21 January, been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) investigation into allegations reported in the media regarding an inappropriate relationship.
"The matter was referred by the MPS Specialist Operations Unit to the DPS on 20 January. A thorough investigation is now under way. As the allegation is subject to investigation, we are not able to comment further at this stage."
Mr Johnson has refused to elaborate on the "personal reasons" for his shock resignation, saying only that he was finding it "difficult to cope" with "personal issues in my private life".
He has been married to Laura, his second wife, for almost 20 years. The couple have a 10-year-old son.
during the Labour leadership campaign.
On Friday however, Mr Balls said he was committed to "carrying on" the strategy set out by Mr Miliband and Mr Johnson.
Alan Johnson's ex-police bodyguard has been suspended over allegations that he had an affair with the former shadow chancellor's wife.
The episode led Mr Johnson to quit Labour's frontbench, forcing leader Ed Miliband to reshuffle his top team less than four months into the job.
Close protection officer Pc Paul Rice guarded Mr Johnson when he was home secretary. He is thought to have worked for Theresa May since she took over at the Home Office last May.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "A Metropolitan Police Service Specialist Operations Police Constable has today, Friday 21 January, been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) investigation into allegations reported in the media regarding an inappropriate relationship.
"The matter was referred by the MPS Specialist Operations Unit to the DPS on 20 January. A thorough investigation is now under way. As the allegation is subject to investigation, we are not able to comment further at this stage."
Mr Johnson has refused to elaborate on the "personal reasons" for his shock resignation, saying only that he was finding it "difficult to cope" with "personal issues in my private life".
He has been married to Laura, his second wife, for almost 20 years. The couple have a 10-year-old son.
during the Labour leadership campaign.
On Friday however, Mr Balls said he was committed to "carrying on" the strategy set out by Mr Miliband and Mr Johnson.