By tradition, the Chancellor, unlike Ministers at the despatch box at any other time of the year, may drink alcohol during the Budget speech. George Osborne has previously chosen to drink mineral water, as did the previous Chancellor Alistair Darling. Now George is running for leader he may want a more populist tipple next week…
Past Chancellors have chosen mineral water (Gordon Brown), whisky (Kenneth Clarke), spritzer (Nigel Lawson), gin and tonic (Geoffrey Howe), brandy and water (Benjamin Disraeli) and sherry and beaten egg (William Ewart Gladstone). The bookies will be giving odds next week, vote on what you reckon George should drink…