Downing Street Christmas Tree
4 min read
As Westminster prepares to wind down after another historic year in British politics, MPs from across the political spectrum tell PoliticsHome what’s on their Christmas wish list.
With 2025 promising to be another busy year, many MPs wished for happy distractions away from the Houses of Parliament.
Bobby Dean, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, hoped next year would bring success for his beloved Tottenham Hotspur.
He simply asked for: “[Manager] Ange Postecoglou to turn it around at Spurs.”
PoliticsHome fears he may be disappointed.
Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, was hoping for a man’s best friend, in particular a Welsh springer spaniel.
Fingers and toes crossed for Mitchell, as he also asked for a new dog last year…
The veteran Conservative also hoped for some renovations to his parliamentary office, namely “the heating in my office to work and the windows fixed”.
Mitchell’s Tory colleague Mark Garnier, shadow Treasury minister and MP for Wyre Forest used a tale about an old British ambassador to hint at what he might want in his stocking.
“I’m reminded of an old story about ambassadors in Japan. The local radio asked them what their Christmas wish was.
“The German ambassador wished for world peace, the French ambassador wanted an end to poverty, and the British ambassador wanted a new pair of slippers and 2 ounces of his favourite pipe tobacco!”
Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham Munira Wilson just wanted some shut-eye.
“My Christmas wish list includes more sleep, which is not something money can buy but which is welcome.”
PoliticsHome can relate.
Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley North wasn’t confident Father Christmas would heed his wishes: “I’m hoping for a pair of Salomon Men’s Speedcross 6GTX fell shoes, or a day off, but I’m not holding my breath for either!”
Chris Curtis, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North is also in the market for some new trainers. The former pollster is hoping fresh footwear will boost his London Marathon training.
Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar Graeme Downie said he wanted a peaceful Christmas for the residents in his Scottish constituency, including some special birds.
“Particularly the peacocks in Pittencrieff Park and the fantastic staff at the Japanese Garden at Cowden, two of the most unique and uplifting outdoor spaces in the constituency.”
Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston and a self-declared “foodie”, is looking to boost her — and her family’s — fruit and veg intake.
“My Christmas wishlist this year has got a really good juicer and blender…it’s important to have less processed food and it’s something I’ve consciously started thinking about.”
With both the UK and the world facing major challenges in the coming weeks and beyond, MPs hoped Christmas would bring some positive news.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath was keen to see eating disorder services improved, telling PoliticsHome it’s a national emergency.
“My Christmas wish would be to see eating disorder services addressed at the top level of Government because they’re currently not fit for purpose. I’m trying to bring it up in every PMQs I have time to go to.”
Not an MP but very much an important political figure, NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard wishes for pressure on hospitals to be as light as possible this Christmas.
“The Christmas gift I would like is not to have a triple-demic, a flu, COVID and RSV. That’s the thing we always really worry about over this period of the year, it’s difficult enough without that sort of triple-demic risk.”
She has urged people to get vaccinated this winter.
Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon wanted peace in the Middle East, something that is both political but also personal for her.
“I know that is not going to be achieved this Christmas but I would make do with a ceasefire in Gaza. I really hope that next year will be the year we finally get back on track with some kind of political process that leads to that two-state solution. It’s been one of the worst years of my life and many Palestinians’ lives, we can’t have another one like it.”
Green Party co-leader and MP for Bristol Central Carla Denyer asked for a similar gift:
“Peace in the Middle East, and so for the UK Government to do much more to bring this about, including a full suspension of UK arms sales to Israel.”
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