Row over 'drunk' MPs on Gibraltar military visit

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has written to Labour and the SNP after three of their MPs were accused of getting drunk on a flight to Gibraltar.

The BBC understands that officials complained about the behaviour of the SNP's Drew Hendry and David Linden and Labour's Charlotte Nichols.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the claims about the SNP MPs "false", but Labour has yet to comment.

The Tories rejected reports two of their own MPs drank heavily later.

A party source told the BBC the accusations some Conservatives had turned up to subsequent events with a hangover were "quite clearly a desperate attempt by those involved in the flight incident to deflect attention away from their behaviour".

The MPs were in a group of 15 taking part in the trip to Gibraltar.

Coinciding with Armistice Day, it was organised as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. set up to give politicians an insight into military life so they can "make a more informed and useful contribution to defence debates".

Several witnesses said the three MPs had been inebriated when the plane touched down at Gibraltar.

One witness claimed they had been drinking before departure from Heathrow and had drunk heavily on the flight.

Two military chaperones who were accompanying the group of MPs on the flight were so concerned by their behaviour they reported it to the Ministry of Defence in London, the BBC understands.

The claims of drunkenness were first reported by the Times and Sun newspapers.

Mr Hendry and Mr Linden are said to have become argumentative when officials queried their Covid documents.

And Ms Nichols returned to the UK early after what has been described as a "mental health episode".

It is understood the MP for Warrington North has post-traumatic stress disorder and is on medication.

Mr Wallace's letter has been sent to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Tory MP James Gray, who chairs the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

The defence secretary said the scheme provided "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," Mr Wallace added.

But Ms Sturgeon rejected the claims against Mr Hendry and Mr Linden as "completely unfounded and false", describing them as a "disgraceful attempt" to divert attention from sleaze allegations against Conservative MPs.

"I know both Drew and David extremely well and if they say these allegations are false I have confidence in that," she added.

Glasgow East MP Mr Linden said he was "incredibly disappointed" by the "bizarre Tory smear campaign".

Mr Hendry, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, accused Conservatives of making "false claims", saying: "That is a matter for their conscience. I'll focus on doing my job and respecting our troops as we mark Armistice Day."

A Government of Gibraltar spokesperson said there had been "no reports of shouting or any sort of aggressive behaviour" at the airport.

The Army has had a presence in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory with a population of 30,000, for more than 300 years.