Government minister in drinking boast

A UK government minister has boasted about his drinking while speaking at the despatch box.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Marland said that he was thinking of putting “alcohol abuse” down as one of his interests following his activities of the previous evening.

The Tory peer was moved from energy and climate change to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in Prime Minister David Cameron’s government reshuffle last month and was making his first appearance at the despatch box since the move.

Lord Marland, who lists Butcombe Brewery in his shareholdings, was welcoming the opposition’s new business spokesman Lord Mitchell to his post and said: “Can I welcome the noble lord to the frontbench. I was looking up earlier his great achievements and, of course, in addition to business and technology, I noticed that one of the things he is interested in is alcohol abuse.

“And I must say, following what I did last night, I’m thinking about putting that down as one of my interests.”

At present Lord Marland lists his interests as sport, arts, environment, business, finance.