Budget 2010: A trivia special

We always dust this one off on Budget day, but can you remember which Chancellor took almost five hours to deliver his speech?

On 18 April 1853, Tory Chancellor William Gladstone spoke for a sanity-sapping four hours and forty five minutes.

Gladstone not only holds the record for the longest Budget speech, but he was also the longest-serving Chancellor - serving for 12 years and four months.

Benjamin Disraeli is said to hold the record for the shortest speech, at forty-five minutes, on 4 April 1867.

Gladstone's stamina may have been due to his tipple of choice during the speech: sherry and beaten egg.

The Chancellor is traditionally allowed an alcoholic drink while delivering his speech and this is the only time that alcohol is allowed in the Chamber, although not all Chancellors choose to take advantage.

Other Chancellors have chosen:

• whisky (Kenneth Clarke)
• gin and tonic (Geoffrey Howe)
• brandy and water (Benjamin Disraeli)
• spritzer (Nigel Lawson)
• sherry and beaten egg (William Gladstone)
• water (Darling 2009)

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