MP Neil Coyle has told how a ban on drinking has been a condition of him having the Labour whip restored.

He was banned from Parliament last February over racist comments in a bar and incidents of drunken, foul-mouthed abuse.

Now in a new interview he said a condition of having the Labour whip restored was a ban on him drinking on his return to Parliament.

The MP told GB News: “At that level, it was over 200 units a week. It was to the point that the medical recommendation was not to stop cold turkey because it would have done more damage to my body to stop than to reduce over time and then stop altogether.

“As I say, it’s shocking. I knew I wasn’t in control of the drinking and this was a catalyst for seeking help. I should say that when I initially sought help, I was declined support. It was a big let down because it took a lot to make that call.”

Mr Coyle told Camilla Tominey that he hasn’t consumed alcohol for 500 days now: “It has been life changing. I feel so much better now. I wouldn’t want to go back to drinking. It’s for my health. My relationship with my daughter, my family, but also for my job.

“And I said to the whips, make it a condition of giving the whip back that I carry on not drinking because that’s best for the Labour Party and it’s also best for me and it’s the whips doing their pastoral job, if you like. So that is what I will be doing.”

He added: “It’s amazing. I haven’t been this long [without drinking] since before I was a teenager. That’s the sad truth of the situation.

“I’m really pleased to have made it now to 500 days. I’ve lost weight. I’ve saved money. I get the best sleep of my adult life. I feel a lot better. I’m much better able to deal with things.

“It wasn’t the crutch I thought it was, in terms of dealing with stress and nonsense and I’m rebuilding relationships with family, friends and beyond, so I feel a huge amount better.”