Three MPs have been accused of getting a little too merry on a plane to Gibraltar – much to the disgust of the Defence Secretary.
Ben Wallace is said to be furious at the conduct of the trio on an official flight carrying members of the armed forces, with one Labour politician accused of needing a wheelchair to leave the plane.
The SNP have denied that MPs David Linden and Drew Hendry became ‘lairy’ on the visit, linked to the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which gives politicians an insight into the work of the British military.
A source told the Daily Telegraph that Labour’s Charlotte Nichols – the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Pubs – became ‘incapacitated through drink… to the point where she had to be moved to the transport by wheelchair’.
But the Warrington North MP denied the incident got out of hand, telling The Sun: ‘Everyone had had a few drinks on the flight.
‘The issue for me is the medication I am taking. That affected my tolerance. I had the same amount to drink as the others. I do not know how many drinks I had — I wasn’t counting. It was less than five.’
Mr Wallace said the trio, travelling among a group of 15 MPs, displayed ‘a lack of respect for the enduring work of our Armed Forces’ and risked ‘undermining respect for Parliament’ following the flight from Heathrow to the Rock on Tuesday.
The MPs were reportedly ‘drinking heavily’ before and during the British Airways service, which was also carrying members of the public.
There have long been whispers about the behaviour of MPs on foreign trips, but the story comes amid increasing scrutiny of parliamentarians, their second jobs and sleaze allegations. (Metro)