THE last time a General Election was held just before Christmas was 1923. The 1920s was an era of soup kitchens, child poverty, mass unemployment, with men competing for menial jobs with pay that was barely enough to put food on the table.

In fact, much like today. The December 12 General Election will be one which pits the never-ending EU saga against

traditional domestic policies.

By their own admission the Conservatives expect to lose dozens of seats in remain areas, particularly down South.

They plan to make up the shortfall by targeting areas in the north, aiming to gobble up votes from those people who don’t want any Brussels for Christmas.

Conservatives trying to win over northern voters. Who’d have believed it. But the northern lights will not shine so brightly on a party which has stripped billions from Teesside schools, introduced the worse welfare reform in living history (Universal Credit) and axed the free TV licence for the over 75s.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar