A blue Christmas

LIKE Elvis, Boris is going to have a Blue Christmas. There are unlikely to be any red decorations on the Johnson Christmas tree after the Labour Party’s crushing defeat. Unlike the King, Britain’s newly elected Prime Minister will be enjoying it hugely.

Already Santa Boris has started handing out his Christmas election presents, more, much more, money for the NHS, slashing rates for small business and (all together now) Getting Brexit Done!

But could there be anything for North Cyprus in his stocking? It seems there might. Not now, we’ll all have to wait well beyond Christmas, but according to this newspaper, the PM may have some good cheer to offer.

As reported in a front page exclusive last week, Mr Johnson has said the political and trade bans on the Turkish Cypriots are “unfair and unjust” and he has promised to look at the problem of direct flights to and from the UK.

His pledges came during a canvassing visit to a prominent Turkish Cypriot family in North London, where he was accompanied by local candidate and vocal TRNC supporter, Iain Duncan Smith.

Sipping Turkish coffee, Boris apparently told them all that, once out of the EU, Britain would be able to take unilateral decisions.

“Let’s get Brexit done and we will look into what we can do on the flights issue,” he was quoted as saying.

Among the community leaders present was Çetin Ramadan of the British Turkish Cypriot Association. He said the Prime Minister sounded genuine and meant what he said. If that proves to be the case, it will mark a most dramatic turnaround in political attitudes towards the TRNC at Westminster.

Let’s not get too carried away and acknowledge that answers to the Cyprus “problem” are so far down the agenda of the new Tory government as to be almost unattainable. And yet a personal push from a Prime Minister with the supreme clout that Boris now wields could change that . . . and he has got Turkish roots.

Boris has a great-grandfather, Ali Kemal — like him, a journalist and politician, from Turkey — but, more importantly, having met him at Turkish embassy functions in London in the past, I believe has some real sympathy for the Turkish Cypriots.

If he can facilitate a breakthrough on the direct flights issue, he will change this country’s fortunes. With the likes of easyJet and other budget airlines potentially coming in to the picture, tourism would boom and direct trade would surely follow.

But before we all get too comfy and cosy on this sleigh ride, let us remember there are others who won’t be so keen to jump on board. Our Greek Cypriot friends are not just pantomime villains — they could hurt.

As I pointed out last time, after Brexit, they could use their power to refuse non-EU citizens entry to their republic. You may have to ask yourselves, which would you rather have: non-stop flights via Ercan or jolly shopping trips to Lidl and Marks and Spencer?

For my part, I believe those of us who enjoy the hospitality of North Cyprus should support it. I have not been to the “other side” for more than a year, and that was only to obtain a piece of equipment that was unavailable here.

Our infrastructure and shopping have improved immeasurably in recent years. Even in our local shops, we can buy French-style bread, Italian ham, wines from around the world and choose from a fantastic array of fruit and vegetables.

I wouldn’t condemn those who like to go South more often. It has its appeal and I believe the GCs would be fools to themselves to cut us off. Visitors from this side spend more over there than the other way round, not forgetting that many British passport holders are also citizens of the TRNC, with an identity card which I believe the Greeks would still have to accept, as they claim the whole island.

Much as I hate the misery of the enforced stopovers, I quite like flying from our friendly little airport. The last time I used it I managed to complete the entire check-in, passport and security procedure in just 12 minutes — fast track without even paying for it! A comfortable four-hour flight to the UK allied to that is an appealing prospect, so if it comes to it, I would rather go to Ercan than Ikea.

As I say, nothing’s going to happen just yet, but to add another seasonal note: “A ray of hope flickers in the sky.”

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SO BLUE is the colour — even in Workington, Sedgefield, Doncaster and, well you know the score by now.

It was hugely enjoyable watching the Brexit turncoats being tossed aside by the electorate; Soubry sacked, Grieve grieving, Chukka chucked!

Now the Labour inquest begins. They already have Keir Starmer and Lady Nugee (sorry Emily Thornberry) jostling to take over with many more strident and unlikeable Lefties threatening to join in the leadership race.

Still many of them are claiming their most disastrous result for 80 years was due to: a) the weather, b) the media, or c) (my personal favourite) their manifesto was popular but the public just didn’t understand . . .

One of them, Claudia Webbe, who replaced that old crook Keith Vaz in Leicester East, was on the radio this week, shouting this tripe in mangled and injured tones. I wonder if she’ll stand to replace Corbyn?

I’m sure we could all do with a break from politics over the days to come but I must confess I am rather looking forward to this latest Labour bloodbath in the New Year.

Meanwhile, may I wish all a very Merry Brexit and a Happy New Parliament!