Three MPs have been accused of “undermining respect for Parliament” after allegedly getting drunk on a flight to Gibraltar for a trip to commemorate Armistice Day.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the SNP’s Drew Hendry and David Linden, and one Labour MP had put their military hosts “in a difficult position”.
The SNP called the claims “a Tory smear” and Labour has yet to comment.
The MPs were in a group of MPs visiting troops in Gibraltar.
The 15 MPs were taking part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which aims to give politicians an insight into military life.
A witness told the BBC the three MPs in question had drunk in the airport lounge before departure and had then drunk heavily on the flight, being inebriated on touchdown.
The SNP MPs are reported to have become argumentative when Gibraltarian officials queried their Covid documents.
And the Labour MP is alleged to have missed a welcome event put on by the military.
The SNP rejected the claims against Mr Hendry and Mr Linden, saying they had been “honoured to be invited” on the trip.
Mr Linden said he was “incredibly disappointed” by the “bizarre Tory smear campaign”.
Mr Hendry accused Conservatives of making “false claims”, adding: “That is a matter for their conscience. I’ll focus on doing my job and respecting our troops as we mark Armistice Day.”
The BBC has approached the Labour MP and the Labour Party for a response to the claims.
Mr Wallace said the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme was “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,” he added.
Source: BBC
