The notion of Ken Livingstone being placed under house arrest for a month in his home in Cricklewood, left in the company of his pet newts and adoring letters from RMT members, might, in ordinary circumstances, be attractive. Life in the capital would be in one sense richer and in another less expensive. That such a sentence should be passed on him not by London’s electors, but anonymous officials after a costly tribunal into his behaviour is, though, ludicrous.

Mr Livingstone has handled this episode with his customary arrogance. He was extremely rude to an Evening Standard reporter, Oliver Finegold, whose inoffensive question: “How did it go tonight?” as the Mayor of London left a party, led to a diatribe including: “Have you thought of having treatment?” and “Were you a German war criminal?” and “You are just like a concentration camp guard”, before Mr Livingstone, who was clearly in a jolly mood that night, finally calmed down. It was an embarrassing performance.

Mr Livingstone should have apologised, even if insincerely, to Mr Finegold at the time, instead of insisting that he was a victim of the media. By digging in, he invited this bizarre investigation into his conduct. Being a loudmouth is not, however, a crime in politics, which is a blessing as someone needs to fill public positions. The mayor must be allowed to return to his office. He should also volunteer to avoid parties for several months; and if he should volunteer to leave office indefinitely that would be an altogether different and more enticing development. On the assumption that he will not, then, in the meantime, the message is Free Ken Livingstone.