Labour MP was attacked by a 21-year-old woman in east London and is now recovering in hospital

Former construction minister Stephen Timms was stabbed in the stomach in east London on Friday and is currently recovering in hospital.

The former Labour treasury minister, 54, whose injuries are not life threatening, was stabbed twice in the stomach at his constituency surgery in Newham.

A 21-year-old woman has been appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of the MP.

Roshonara Choudhary of East Ham was remanded in custody after appearing at Stratford magistrates' court. She will next appear at the Old Bailey on 1 June. Choudhary has also been charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon.

Timms was construction minister up until January 2008 before Baroness Shriti Vadera took over the role he also served at the Treasury under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and was recently re-elected as MP for East Ham.

He is understood to be doing well in the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, sitting up and talking to staff.