Here, as well as having their letters to Santa postmarked with north pole, quivering children get an audience with Father Christmas, enjoy a dash through the snow on a reindeer-pulled sleigh ...

I received a letter this week from his major, thanking both of us for the sacrifice that he is making this Christmas to improve the lives of others. I am indeed incredibly proud of him.

Johnson was responding to a hopeful letter by an eight-year-old, who asked if the government has had any "thought" about "Santa coming this Christmas". "If we leave hand sanitiser by the cookies ...