Iceland has a new candidate in the run up to the next parliamentary elections. Santa Claus, reindeer farmer and part-time parcel courier, will be standing for the Social Alliance Community (SAC). One of his main platforms for election will be the spiralling price of animal feedstuffs. Geir Haarde, Prime Minister since 1995 and now leader of a coalition between the Right wing Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance, has long been a strong opponent of curbing the free market in the pricing of these feeds.
     From his farm in the far north of Iceland Mr Claus told our reporter, `I have seen the cost of travelling worldwide rise to such prohibitive levels that if something is not done immediately then I am afraid I will not be able to carry on with my business, which could have very serious consequences for thousands of manufacturers, not to mention the millions of disappointed children who rely on my service. That is why I am putting myself up as a candidate`
     When these comments were put to Prime Minister Haarde, he said he had to look at it from the point of view of the feedstuff manufacturers. `Keeping these feed prices artificially low just to allow someone to gallivant around the world every December is not really on.` He went on to say that he was sorry that his stand on the subject might put Mr Claus out of business, but as he and his dear wife had not been blessed with children he really didn`t give a toss.....