MPs have accused a Cabinet minister of helping spread “false smears” to distract from Tory sleaze after it was claimed they were drunk and “lairy” on a trip to Gibraltar.
The extraordinary row erupted as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace wrote to the leaders of the SNP and Labour to express his disappointment in three MPs who visited British troops this week.
Sources claimed SNP MPs David Linden and Drew Hendry were “difficult” and “lairy” with customs and testing staff on arrival.
A third Labour MP, who the Mirror is choosing not to name in this article, reportedly had to be helped from the airport in a wheelchair.
Mr Wallace told journalists in a statement: “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.”
But the SNP MPs have hit out at the allegations as a Tory “smear campaign” which they claim is designed to “divert attention” from sleaze.
Meanwhile the Labour MP, who has suffered health issues, has said the reaction was due to her medication. It is understood she blacked out, a symptom of PTSD.
And a source close to the trip branded Mr Wallace’s criticism “hypocrisy”, claiming two Tory MPs who also went were out drinking until the early hours.
Mr Linden tweeted: “Incredibly disappointed by what appears to be a bizarre Tory smear campaign in the media tonight but I’ll leave the politics to others.
“Instead, I’ll continue to focus on participating in briefings with service personnel, meetings with local officials, as well as continuing to undertake training exercises and hear first hand from those who serve in the Armed Services here in Gibraltar.”
Mr Hendry added: “It's deeply disappointing that Tory MPs have made false claims in a shameless attempt to divert attention from the Tory corruption scandal engulfing Westminster.
“That is a matter for their conscience. I'll focus on doing my job and respecting our troops as we mark Armistice Day.”
Shadow Housing Secretary Lucy Powell said she knows the Labour MP accused of drunkenness, but told Times Radio: “The Conservative Party have chosen to give this to the media today.
“The whole thing is of regret.
“I do know the Labour MP concerned and I do know that she is on medication.
“I’m sure this will all be looked at and taken into account when the chief whip and the Labour Party look into it."
Various witnesses told newspapers the trio of MPs “made full use of the facilities” in an airport lounge and “It looked like they were going on a stag do."
The SNP pair were accused of being “drunk and rude” and allegedly “kicked up a fuss" in the airport when their Covid passes did not work.
But the Labour MP, who returned from the trip early, said she had "less than five" drinks and no more than others. She added: “Everyone had had a few drinks on the flight.
"The issue for me is the medication I am taking. That affected my tolerance."
A source close to the trip said: "People are staggered by the hypocrisy of Ben Wallace and his ill-advised attempts to drag the armed forces into political game playing.
“It was a serious error of judgement on his behalf, which has spectacularly backfired, given two Conservative MPs were out on the lash in Gibraltar until the early hours.”
