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MP Drew Hendry lashes out at 'false claims' that he got drunk with other MPs on a flight to visit troops in Gibraltar as 'a shameless attempt to divert attention from the Tory corruption scandal engulfing Westminster'


By Scott Maclennan

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Drew Hendry MP.
Drew Hendry MP.

MP Drew Hendry has slammed “false claims” that he and two other MPs got drunk on a flight to visit troops in Gibraltar.

The allegations concern not just the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP but also SNP colleague David Linden and an unnamed female Labour MP.

An eyewitness claims the MPs drank in the airport before departure and then drank heavily on the flight arriving intoxicated.

They were part of a group of 15 MPs visiting troops in Gibraltar as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and also to mark Armistice day today.

Mr Hendry wrote on social media: “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.”

Mr Linden also took to social media to vent his fury at the allegations, saying: “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.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will write to Labour and the SNP to express disappointment over the alleged poor behaviour of some of their MPs on a visit to troops in Gibraltar.

An SNP spokesperson said: "These suggestions are false.

"Drew Hendry MP and David Linden MP were honoured to be invited to this important event and attended all engagements, including the welcome meeting and dinner shortly after landing.

"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."

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