Hunt says ‘difficulty’ of autumn statement will not drive him to drink in Commons
The Chancellor is traditionally entitled to consume alcohol while unveiling financial measures.
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Jeremy Hunt has ruled out drinking alcohol in the House of Commons when he delivers his autumn statement “despite the difficulty of the package” to be announced.
The Chancellor gave a glimpse of the tone of Thursday’s announcement as he joked there will not be whisky in his glass when at the despatch box.
By tradition, the chancellor delivering a budget is the only occasion when a minister can drink alcohol at the despatch box.
William Gladstone drank sherry with a beaten egg and Benjamin Disraeli had brandy.
Geoffrey Howe in the 1980s preferred gin and tonic and Ken Clarke whisky, but more recent chancellors, including Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling and George Osborne, have all drunk mineral water.
Mr Hunt, speaking during Treasury questions, told Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle: “Subject to your agreement on Thursday I may be talking for rather a long time so I’ll be brief today and just say that, despite the difficulty of the package I will be announcing, I sadly will not be drinking any whisky as I do so.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.