Cabinet Minister Esther McVey Turns On Lights At Daily Express Christmas Party

Cabinet Minister Esther McVey proved popular with journalists attending the Daily Express Christmas party, as she took on the honour of switching on the lights of the newsroom’s humble Christmas tree.

In a video first shared to X, the government’s so-called Common Sense Tsar can be seen delivering a short humourous speech before turning on the tree’s lights.

After a short introduction from political editor Sam Lister welcoming McVey, to cheers and laughter from the gathered staffers, the minister introduced herself as “the minister of Santa Claus.”

“I’ve turned down Oxford Street just to do this,” she joked. “But what can I say to you, Christmas doesn’t get better than this.”

Lister then draws attention to the crusader topping the tree, rather than a traditional star. An English crusader is the decades old logo of the newspaper.

On X, the media watchdog account that originally shared the footage, GB News Spin Room commented: “This is a sitting cabinet minister on the government’s payroll, partaking in a festive soirée with the very people that should be scrutinising her work.”

McVey, who is Conservative MP for Totten in Cheshire, was assigned a Cabinet position in November by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his government reshuffle. It is not certain what McVey’s responsibilities are, exactly, as she is appointed minister without portfolio, but it is expected she will be tasked with tackling “woke” issues.

The minister, who formerly hosted a GB News show with her husband, Conservative MP Phillip Davies, resigned from the network weeks ago to take up her new role. At the time she gave an exclusive interview to the right-leaning tabloid at the time, describing her surprise at being promoted by Sunak. McVey has also written multiple op-ed columns for the newspaper on topics ranging from Brexit to strikes and pandemic lockdowns.