Churchill’s famous description of the Royal Navy’s traditions came into Alistair Lexden’s mind in the House of Lords when Admiral Lord West proclaimed the merits of drinking rum during oral questions to Lord Prior of Brampton, Health Minister in the Upper House.
As The Times diary TMS reported on December 19, time ran out before he could ask his supplementary question: “Could the noble and gallant lord arrange to supply a Christmas tot to all noble lords… with the other two elements of the navy’s famous tradition available on request?”