It’s Christmas time and everybody is having a ball.
Throughout the land tidings of great joy are ringing out as even bitter enemies
embrace and wish each other a wonderful life. Even in the seat of power, in Parliament
itself, coalition and opposition party members are breaking open bottles of
seasonal cheer and slapping each other on the back as they prepare for the
break and a welcome few days alone with their families. But somebody is
missing.
A lone figure sits high above the Thames on the roof of
the Palace of Westminster, sobbing quietly and staring down at the cold waters
below. After a few minutes he stands and wobbles uncertainly towards the edge.
He is a little drunk, but right now sobriety is charging in like a train. He
pulls back his shoulders, lifts his head and stares straight ahead as
he puts one foot on the low parapet and makes to step up; up and off.
But suddenly a large figure appears beside him and places
a gentle, yet firm hand on his shoulder to restrain him. “Oh ho no, son!” he
boomed. The younger man took a step back and turned to find a burly gentleman
in a red suit trimmed with luxurious white fur to match an impressive full set
of bushy, white whiskers. A broad black belt circled his ample tummy and a
broad smile brought forth laughter lines around his twinkly eyes. “Father
Christmas!” he gasped, “is it really you?”
“Sit down son” said the jolly old man “and tell me what
this is all about. And you can call me Santa.”
The pair sat down and gazed out over the Christmas lit
spectacle of the capital. The younger man sighed and began his tale…
“My name is Ed Miliband…” He paused as if that was
explanation enough, but as Santa remained silent he continued. “It’s all gone
so wrong. My job should be easy, opposing the nasty, vile, vicious Tories, with
their baby-killing policies and hatred of the poor, but it turns out that
people actually approve of what they are doing to the welfare state. Everywhere
I turn I think I’m going to find somebody ready to stab me in the back. And
every week I have to face up to the coalition bully boys at PMQs; I leave the chamber
in tears. I’m a failure and everybody knows it!”
Santa got to his feet and Ed turned round to gaze up at
him. “Who am I?” he said.
“Why, you’re Fathe… you’re Santa!” said Ed
“Then you must know I can grant wishes on Christmas Eve!”
he laughed. “Come on son, with one wave of my hand I can make everything
better. What if I said you will wake up tomorrow with all your troubles gone?
What if I said you will go from strength to strength next year and storm to
victory in 2015, going on to become one of the nation’s best loved Prime
Ministers?”
“Oh, could you?” said Ed, “Would you?”
“Ho ho ho, of course I will!” laughed Santa, “But you
must do me a favour in return.” And with that Santa unzipped his trousers and pulled
out his tinsel-bedecked penis. “A quick blow job and all your wishes will be
granted.”
Ed balked at first then gingerly took hold of Santa, shut
his eyes and proceeded to suck off Saint Nick. When Santa was finished and
tucked away and Ed had swallowed the lot, the two of them faced each other to
say farewell. “Merry Christmas!” said Santa. And “Merry Christmas to you.” Said
Ed.
“So now, I can go home for Christmas and in the New Year,
when Parliament reconvenes, everybody will respect me and listen to what I have
to say? And I’ll go on to win the General Election in 2015? And together with
me Labour will make Britain better?”
“How old are you?” asked Santa.
“I’m 43” said Ed.
“Forty-three?” asked Santa. Then he pulled off his beard
to reveal the gurning face of Ed McCluskey. “And you still believe in Father
Christmas?”