Three MPs who were on a British Airways flight and were travelling to Gibraltar on an official visit, have been accused of being so drunk, one was taken of the plane in a wheelchair.
A source told the Daily Telegraph Labour’s Charlotte Nichols, who is 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.”
It was further alleged that Nichols was so drunk she was taken to her hotel “for her own safety” and missed a welcome dinner for MPs.
It was also alleged that David Linden and Drew Hendry also on the flight had become “lairy” to which the SNP have denied.
The Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was reported to have been furious over their conduct as they were on an official flight with members of the armed forces.
The Warrington North MP told 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.”
A furious Defence Minister the three MPs were travellng in a group of 15 MPs in total who had “a lack of respect for the enduring work of our Armed Forces” and risked “undermining respect for Parliament.”
The MPs took a flight from Heathrow to Gibraltar on Tuesday, and it was reported that the trio were “drinking heavily” before the flight and during, plus the British Airways flight had other members of the public travelling.
Wallace has written to the Labour leader and the SNP to complain over their alleged conduct on the flight which had Ministry of Defence chiefs also on board who reported their behaviour.
A defence source told the Telegraph that the MPs were “quite clearly drunk when they were checking in and going through the process of boarding,” they added, they “drank heavily on the plane.”
It was further reported that military staff had to intervene with Linden and Hendry as their Covid passports did not work at Heathrow and they were “rude and kicked up a fuss.”
The source said, “That’s the point where our guy intervened to try and take control of the situation, rather than being the amenable host.”
However an SNP spokesperson told the Telegraph, “These suggestions are inaccurate. Drew Hendry MP and David Linden MP were honoured to be invited to this important event and attended all engagements, including the welcome meeting and dinner shortly after landing.
“Instead of trying to divert attention from the Tory corruption scandal engulfing Westminster, Ben Wallace should be apologising for his role in it, including voting to get Owen Paterson off the hook.”
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