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Oh my god, how do you know Ed Bulls, someone said to me the other day, assuming that the

only reason you might know my guest on political thinking for this Christmas special is because

of his dancing, on strictly come dancing, winning the celebrity best home chef or making

all those documentaries on BBC 2.

I gently pointed out to someone who was about my children's age that before all of that

stuff, he actually was quite a serious politician.

Being when I first met him, the advisor to the shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown and then

to the Chancellor himself before becoming Education Secretary Shadow Chancellor and a candidate

for the Labour leader.

All that feels though, a very long time.

Go Ed Bulls, welcome to Political Thinking.

A long time ago, isn't it?

We ought to begin its Christmas after all and although we're recording this before Christmas,

being broadcast afterwards.

So given that you've just produced a cookery book or at least a book about Christmas cooking

reflections, tips, people are sitting there now wondering what they should do with those

Christmas leftovers.

What is the Ed Bulls recommendation?

Well I think the most important thing for post Christmas leftovers is chips.

Homemade chips, my mother-in-law is brilliant at making homemade chips, cuts of potatoes,

double cooked in a pan and you can get through quite a lot of cold turkey or cold goose if

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