Ken, the socialist with a £1,200 Savile Row suit

For years he has been a champion of the socialist cause.

But even a man whose nickname is Red Ken can't resist a free gift, even if its normally associated with a high-flier.

Ken Livingstone has swapped his usual shabby suits for an upmarket £1,200 Savile Row number that's more City gent than man of the people.

London's mayor was given the Gieves & Hawkes single-breasted wool high twist suit in charcoal grey, after a fashion shoot and has been impressing colleagues at City Hall.

It marks a distinct change of style for the 61-year-old Mayor, who was more usually seen in a shapeless tweed jacket during his early days leading the Greater London Authority in the Eighties.

The ready-to-wear number was first presented to him as part of a fashion feature in the March edition of men's magazine GQ Style, which is celebrating London's style. Livingstone liked it so much, Gieves & Hawkes allowed him to keep it.

The world-famous tailors, based at No 1 Saville Row, dates back to 1785 and has a history of illustrious customers, including Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. A spokesman for the tailors said: "It is a suit with wool that has a natural memory. It returns to his shape nicely without creasing. It is just a beautiful pure wool suit."

According to reports, he has been donning his new threads "quite often" since his portrait was taken for the magazine, the first time he has featured on the pages of GQ.

A spokeswoman for the Mayor said: "Obviously he is pleased about it otherwise he wouldn't be wearing it."

The suit's latest run-out was during Tuesday's press conference at City Hall when Livingstone announced an agreement with Venezuela's state-owned oil company to provide discounted fuel for the city's iconic red buses.