The ghost of Christmas Brexit shows Santa a scary new world

‘You’re not going to thank me for this, Santa, but you might owe HM Revenue & Customs a few bob.’ In the near future, Customs Officer Smith gives the man in red the lowdown on the meddlesome new trading arrangements

Santa Claus might have to deal with a great deal of paperwork if and when Brexit eventually takes effect, so it’s little wonder he’s frustrated Pic: Shutterstock

It’s Christmas Eve, a few years from now. Somewhere over the North Atlantic, Santa gets a call on sleigh radio, ordering him into a holding pattern. A few minutes later, a man wearing a helicopter jumpsuit is winched down onto the sleigh. His crash helmet has the HM Revenue & Customs logo on the side.

The man on the winch takes off his helmet and shouts across to Santa over the howling wind.