X-Centric
do you seriously think that any of his cronies fellow would have spoken up against him?
Surely the point the columnist is making is that, despite the FA's allegation,
no-one else on the flight witnessed him "acting in a disruptive manner" or behaving in a way which could reasonably be considered to be 'air rage'.
And, he adds for good measure, (not even)
"a former Labour MP, who is now a member of the House of Lords, a current Labour MP, a former Labour city councillor and a Liberal Democrat peer" (who might be thought to have no reason for misplaced/misguided loyalty towards a former Tory MP, former Tory Minister in the House of Lords and current Tory Peer.)
Some reports claimed he was "smelling strongly of drink" when he boarded and "berated" a female member of the cabin crew. But others claimed he had not caused any trouble, despite accusations he had been disruptive.
Like you, I'm limited to press reports but FWIW, if it's correct that no other member of the crew and no passenger confirmed the allegation, the Crown Office decision not to prosecute him based on an allegation by one FA seems to me to be entirely proper and sensible.