COLCHESTER MP Will Quince swapped the pinstripe suit for Army fatigues as he lived alongside Royal Marines for a week.

During Parliament’s recess, Mr Quince was among 12 MPs to travel to northern Norway to live alongside training marines for five days.

Marines regularly travel to Norway for Arctic training.

Mr Quince took part in ski training and snow trekking and also learnt how to create a shelter in snowy conditions.

The Conservative MP also spent a night sleeping rough outdoors with the unit, which he said “allowed all the airs and graces to go out the window”.

He added: “Quite apart from seeing their skills and how they use them, it gave me the chance to just talk to them.

“I think the thing we don’t realise is how they don’t see their wives and children for up to three-months at a time, so practicalities of having wi-fi at the base so they can Facetime and Skype is really important.”

Mr Quince’s trip was organised by the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

He said: “Before I get accused of going on a jolly, I think it’s fair to say our travel was a long was from BA. We flew out on A400M Atlas, so we are strapped in like parachuters are.”

Mr Quince added: “When you go to bases as an MP, quite often you’re in a suit and it’s all ‘sir’ and ‘ma’am’ and they say what they think you want to hear.

“But if you’re dressed in combats and just talking, after half an hour all the airs and graces are gone and you’re just chatting.”

During the exercises, temperatures dipped to a zero degrees, which the MP was told was “mild”.

The Colchester MP added he was struck by the high esteem marines hold for members of the Parachute Regiment.

The two make up the British Army’s rapid response units, which means both are on a constant high state of readiness.

He added: “Representing Colchester, I regularly meet with members of the Parachute Regiment and consider them to be the very best of the British Army and a credit to our town.

“It was most interesting to hear from the Royal Marines - notwithstanding a bit of healthy rivalry - how they are held in the highest regard.

“What is clear to me is exactly why 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Royal Marines Commandos were chosen to make up our rapid reaction force.”

He added: “[The trip] gives us as parliamentarians a better understanding of how they feel about their job, the food, accommodation and welfare and allows us to make more informed decisions about the armed forces in the future.”