Labour MP had to be wheelchaired off plane after ‘drinking heavily’ on flight to visit troops
A Labour MP had to be wheelchaired off a plane after “drinking heavily” during a flight to visit British troops in Gibraltar as a part of an official Westminster trip.
Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols was one of three MPs that were said to be drinking heavily before and during the flight, with defence secretary Ben Wallace accusing them of “a lack of respect for the enduring work of our Armed Forces” that risked “undermining respect for Parliament”.
Defence sources told the Telegraph that Scottish National Party MPs David Linden and Drew Hendry had also been “lairy” and “rude” when they got off the flight, after their Covid passes did not work at the airports gates in Gibraltar.
The source said the trio were “quite clearly drunk when they were checking in and going through the process of boarding” and then “drank heavily on the plane”.
Wallace is planning on writing to the leaders of Labour and the SNP to complain about the behaviour of the three MPs on the trip, which saw 14 parliamentarians go to watch British troops in action.
“This type of behaviour shows a lack of respect for the enduring work of our armed forces,” Wallace said.
“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.”
Nichols is said to have become “incapacitated” on the flight due to alcohol and needed the assistance of a wheelchair to leave the plane and enter the airport.
She was taken directly to the hotel and was flown home early on Tuesday instead of continuing the rest of the trip.
Nichols said she had to return home due to a “mental health episode”.
The MPs deny they were drunk, but all admit they were drinking.
The SNP labelled the story a “Tory smear” campaign.
“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,” they said.