My 10am tots are medicinal, says whisky-swilling Ken Livingstone

12 April 2012

Dispatched: Livingstone sips

The former Labour MP, who is now London mayor, excused his habit by claiming it was a tonic for bronchitis.

Mr Livingstone's disclosure about his early-morning drinking came after a TV documentary team snatched a sample of the liquid he drank while being quizzed by members of the assembly.

Scientific analysis showed it was 47 per cent alcohol.

The controversial politician has spent weeks trying to discredit the Channel 4 report and, at the eleventh hour, attempted to get the highly-critical Dispatches programme about his mayoral tenure banned.

In the end, it was screened on Monday evening.

Mr Livingstone was forced to admit he was indeed drinking alcohol in the film. But he insisted he used it "as an anaesthetic" in winter months to help his chest problems.

Speaking at a press conference, the mayor compared his drinking to the Parliamentary tradition of the chancellor of the exchequer sipping a whisky as he delivers his annual Budget.

"I tend to suffer from mild bronchitis through much of the winter," he said.

"If I have to talk for two and a half hours and through the mindnumbing tedium of questioning my members of the assembly you will hear my voice start to go.

"At that point I will pick up that tumbler of whisky and I have a sip. It then stops. The only way I can get through talking for two and a half hours with a severe cough or bronchitis is to use alcohol as an anaesthetic."

Referring to Winston Churchill's love of alcohol, he added: "I don't think I have ever reached Winston Churchill's level and as it didn't impair him in the destruction of the greatest evil facing humanity, it won't impede with my continuing to lead Londoners."

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Olympic Ken: The Mayor of London claims whisky helps him with speeches

Last night Conservative London Assembly member Richard Barnes hit back, saying: "Funny, but this so-called mild bronchitis that strikes in winter never seems to be cured in May, June or July either."

The British Lung Foundation said there was no scientific proof that whisky did help with bronchitis.

But chairman Keith Prowse said: "Many people swear by a hot toddy with whisky as a home remedy for colds and chest problems.

"There's a general belief that whisky has a medicinal effect on colds and chest problems although there's no scientific proof that that's the case".

The Dispatches investigation was a damning indictment of Mr Livingstone's seven years in office.

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