Leader: In the season to be jolly, Labour isn’t laughing

IT IS a sign of the times. A record number of people have applied for jobs over the festive season delivering the post. As the economy teeters on the brink of recession, it is perhaps surprising the Royal Mail received only 80,000 applications for 18,000 jobs.

Given this difficult state of economic affairs, it is therefore imperative we know more about the festive seasonal labour market. Luckily, some intelligence has come to hand.

One events company says although there has not been a decline, there has not been a surge in people looking for jobs as Santas, or should we say stand-in Santas, as the real one will, of course, be busy at the North Pole on presents preparation. By way of contrast, there has been a rise in number of applications to become elves, something the company says is because the posts are open to men and women, who are presumably not put off by having to deal with elf and safety legislation.

Although a result of tough times at least there is a healthy demand for positions vital to our seasonal enjoyment. If only it were the same for other posts, notably in the battle to head Scottish Labour. Yesterday thingummy, the one whose name Ed Miliband could not remember, declared his candidacy. He has just two rivals. It says a lot that far more people want to be Santa than leader in Scotland. Perhaps Labour needs a Santa Claus Four moment to reignite interest in the contest.