>Three MPs have been accused by the defence secretary of “disrespecting” the armed forces by getting drunk on a flight to visit troops in Gibraltar. Ben Wallace is writing to Labour and the SNP to express his “disappointment” about the behaviour of the MPs, who he said had “put military personnel in a difficult position”. A Labour MP, whom The Times is not naming, was said to have been “incapacitated through drink” to the point where she had to be helped from the airport in a wheelchair, according to a report circulated in the Ministry of Defence. She was taken to her hotel and was unable to attend a “welcome event” put on for the MPs by the military. It is understood that she was returning to the UK today — two days early — after speaking to Labour whips.
>The report said that the female MP was with two SNP MPs, David Linden and Drew Hendry, who were “difficult” with customs and testing staff at the airport on Tuesday night. They were part of a group of 15 MPs visiting Gibraltar for a three-day trip over Armistice Day with the all-party parliamentary group for the armed forces. James Gray, a Tory MP and chairman of the parliamentary group, said: “These three, as I understand it, were in a BA lounge in Heathrow and made full use of the facilities.” He said that by the time they got to the airport they were “pretty well oiled”. According to eyewitnesses, they continued to drink on the flight. Gray said that if they had been at an officer’s mess dinner, then he probably would have thrown them off the scheme but as they were not yet on the trip, and merely on their way, he would have words with them instead.
>He said: “If they had been in an officer’s mess at a dinner and got completely drunk, then I have a responsibility for that and I would throw them off the scheme as it were, probably. But because they were simply civilians on the way to a visit, what they do in their own time in the BA lounge is a matter for them.” A retired lieutenant colonel and a serving major were said to be on the flight as “minders” and had witnessed the three MPs drinking. Wallace said: “This type of behaviour shows a lack of respect for the enduring work of our armed forces. The armed forces scheme is an opportunity for both parliamentarians and the military to understand each other. This behaviour puts military personnel in a difficult position and risks undermining respect for parliament.” There were also unconfirmed reports that two Tory MPs had been out drinking until 2am. Army sources said that the Labour MP was “already visibly pretty drunk getting on the plane”, adding: “She drank throughout the journey. She was kind of helped off the aircraft but made it through . . . to the baggage area. In order to avoid a scene she was popped on a wheelchair from the baggage area to the transport that was laid on. She was then put in the hotel straight away, and given a drink watch through the night.” They sources said that the two SNP MPs were also “drunk”. It is understood that the two SNP MPs attended the welcome event at about 6.30pm on landing. >They also attended every event since, including a visit at 8am today. The Labour MP declined to comment.
She got so drunk she needed a wheel chair according to reports.
One drink or two on an official flight sure but you are representing country on business not flying out to grt drunk on Teneriffee holiday.
Just you know…. Use ye brain.
Getting hammered onna official work flight… Not best idea.
Heck.
If she wanted to stay, take a later flight home and do long weekend in Malta after her official stuff over wnd use holiday, get drunk or whatever. That would be 100% ok as in private time.
Just don, t do it on work time.
One unnamed source is doing a lot of work here
You’d think they’d be quite a few witnesses given the nature of the allegations
3 comments
>Three MPs have been accused by the defence secretary of “disrespecting” the armed forces by getting drunk on a flight to visit troops in Gibraltar. Ben Wallace is writing to Labour and the SNP to express his “disappointment” about the behaviour of the MPs, who he said had “put military personnel in a difficult position”. A Labour MP, whom The Times is not naming, was said to have been “incapacitated through drink” to the point where she had to be helped from the airport in a wheelchair, according to a report circulated in the Ministry of Defence. She was taken to her hotel and was unable to attend a “welcome event” put on for the MPs by the military. It is understood that she was returning to the UK today — two days early — after speaking to Labour whips.
>The report said that the female MP was with two SNP MPs, David Linden and Drew Hendry, who were “difficult” with customs and testing staff at the airport on Tuesday night. They were part of a group of 15 MPs visiting Gibraltar for a three-day trip over Armistice Day with the all-party parliamentary group for the armed forces. James Gray, a Tory MP and chairman of the parliamentary group, said: “These three, as I understand it, were in a BA lounge in Heathrow and made full use of the facilities.” He said that by the time they got to the airport they were “pretty well oiled”. According to eyewitnesses, they continued to drink on the flight. Gray said that if they had been at an officer’s mess dinner, then he probably would have thrown them off the scheme but as they were not yet on the trip, and merely on their way, he would have words with them instead.
>He said: “If they had been in an officer’s mess at a dinner and got completely drunk, then I have a responsibility for that and I would throw them off the scheme as it were, probably. But because they were simply civilians on the way to a visit, what they do in their own time in the BA lounge is a matter for them.” A retired lieutenant colonel and a serving major were said to be on the flight as “minders” and had witnessed the three MPs drinking. Wallace said: “This type of behaviour shows a lack of respect for the enduring work of our armed forces. The armed forces scheme is an opportunity for both parliamentarians and the military to understand each other. This behaviour puts military personnel in a difficult position and risks undermining respect for parliament.” There were also unconfirmed reports that two Tory MPs had been out drinking until 2am. Army sources said that the Labour MP was “already visibly pretty drunk getting on the plane”, adding: “She drank throughout the journey. She was kind of helped off the aircraft but made it through . . . to the baggage area. In order to avoid a scene she was popped on a wheelchair from the baggage area to the transport that was laid on. She was then put in the hotel straight away, and given a drink watch through the night.” They sources said that the two SNP MPs were also “drunk”. It is understood that the two SNP MPs attended the welcome event at about 6.30pm on landing. >They also attended every event since, including a visit at 8am today. The Labour MP declined to comment.
She got so drunk she needed a wheel chair according to reports.
One drink or two on an official flight sure but you are representing country on business not flying out to grt drunk on Teneriffee holiday.
Just you know…. Use ye brain.
Getting hammered onna official work flight… Not best idea.
Heck.
If she wanted to stay, take a later flight home and do long weekend in Malta after her official stuff over wnd use holiday, get drunk or whatever. That would be 100% ok as in private time.
Just don, t do it on work time.
One unnamed source is doing a lot of work here
You’d think they’d be quite a few witnesses given the nature of the allegations