'TIS the season to be jolly. Tinsel-decorated Christmas trees gaily wink through thousands of festive windows across the region and barely a child can sleep for eager anticipation of Santa's arrival.

So let's put aside all cynical thoughts for the next few days at least.

Banish all those suspicions that the great Millennium City competition announced this week was stitched up months ago with Middlesbrough not having the proverbial snowball-in-hell chance.

Thanks to a remarkably early Christmas present from a helpful Whitehall official back in March, this column reported private Home Office documents ten months ago showing Wolverhampton and Brighton were the runaway favourites for promotion to city status.

Stout denials from Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien followed. Our leaked documents were dismissed. Middlesbrough was still very much in the race.

And this week, Mr O'Brien took us all by surprise by announcing that - wait for it, Wolverhampton and Brighton had won. But, dear reader, please try to think that there was a real competition.

And don't you dare tell your kids that Father Christmas doesn't exist.

SHE was one of the front-runners from the start, so no surprise last week that barrister Vera Baird stormed home in the race to succeed Mo Mowlam as Labour parliamentary candidate in Redcar.

The shock was in who came second - a man, in the shape of Unison chap Dave Anderson. So what happened to the challenge of alleged co-favourite, Redcar and Cleveland councillor Maureen Hall?

Maureen came third, despite being tipped as Vera's deadly rival.

Puzzling over Maureen's sad demise is one David Walsh, Labour leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council.

And I hear dark mutterings that Mr Walsh's decision to throw his weight behind Maureen's failed bid could now have grim consequences for the council leader.

David, you have been warned.

WHAT'S the first thing Gerry Steinberg does when he wakes up? Make a cup of tea for the wife? Er, no.

The Durham City Labour MP opens a tin for the other love of his life - his dog.

I have this from a very good source whom I won't name but who will be defending Stockton South for Labour at the next election.

The revelation followed Gerry's own declaration of his animal-loving tendencies in the Commons' hunting debate this week.

"I carry a picture of my Staffordshire bull terrier around in my pocket and I hate cruelty to animals. I am thinking of putting a picture of my wife in my wallet but the bull terrier takes precedence," said Mr Steinberg.

IT WAS the parliamentary social event of the year. I know this because I wasn't invited.

The new Commons Speaker, Michael Martin, this week threw open the doors of his residence in the Palace of Westminster for a lavish entertainment for Westminster hacks and their assorted partners.

So who was the one, solitary MP to be seen there? Why, it was the inevitable Fraser Kemp - friend of all the media and New Labour spindoctor beyond compare.

Proof once again that the Houghton and Washington East MP can oil his way into a Bank of England vault, if he wants to.

Mr Kemp has complained recently that this column has far too much Alan Milburn in it. Hope this festively redresses the balance, Fraser.

l Westminster Week, along with our MPs, is now taking a break until the New Year.

www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/news/ westminster.htm