Reckless British MP too drunk to vote on budget debate

Newly-elected member of parliament Mark Reckless, 39, fell over after being drunk and had to be helped into a cab home by colleagues.

Reckless later apologised for his behaviour saying: "I feel very embarrassed. It's a mistake I will not be repeating."

"I don't know what came over me. It was a long day and I'd had a very early breakfast meeting. I normally have just one or two and know when to stop. I don't know what happened. I don't remember falling over," the Sun quoted Reckless as saying.

Reckless, who represents the Rochester and Strood constituency in Kent, said because of his unsteady state it would have been "inappropriate" for him to have voted.

The vote on the Labour Party's attempts to block the planned Value Added Tax (VAT) hike took place at 2.07 a.m. Wednesday after more than six hours of debate. It was, however, defeated by the Government.The parliament bar earned a record 5,000 pounds as many members of parliament gathered there to kill time while waiting for the vote.