BRUSSELS — The European Parliament’s political groups are more polarized than they’ve ever been. But they all agree on one thing: The debates are insufferably dull — and it’s time to change that. Parliament President Roberta Metsola asked political group chairs before the summer recess to brainstorm ways to make the hemicycle’s debates — often empty, tedious and scripted — more engaging. It’s part of a long-standing effort to spice up how MEPs do politics in the house. In January, the Parliament tried to start forcing lawmakers to at least show up from the start of debates, by not telling them when they will be called on to speak at the podium. POLITICO got its hands on the groups’ suggestions — which range from more unscripted interventions and new debate formats to turning up the heat on the EU executive. We read them so you don’t have to, but here are the letters in full, by the far-right European of Sovereign Nations, right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists, liberal Renew, center-left Socialists and Democrats, the left-wing Greens and The Left. The center-right European People’s Party and far-right Patriots for Europe did not send any suggestions. “The elements proposed will now be assessed and possible measures to be tested will be made for a new discussion” in a future meeting of political group leaders, the Parliament’s press service said. GETTING TO REALLY GRILL THE COMMISSION All groups agree that commissioners get let off the hook too easily. To put an end to that, the ECR proposes a “ping-pong” Q&A format, allowing MEPs to directly question commissioners — instead of just delivering statements drafted in advance. “This segment should be flexible enough to be added to the agenda at short notice, enabling the Parliament to respond rapidly to unforeseen or emerging events of political or geopolitical importance.” The group wants to improve the tools available for MEPs beyond “purely declarative speeches” to scrutinize the commissioners’ actions — an idea shared by Renew and the S&D, both of which want to have regular quizzing of commissioners. One idea from the ESN group, led by Alternative for Germany, is to extend the blue card system — a tool for MEPs to be able to reply to another MEP’s speech ad hoc and ask a question — to commissioners too. The Left and S&D are also proposing that, following the College of Commissioners meeting in Strasbourg — when the 27 commissioners take decisions together — they then come to the Parliament to present the outcome, and give MEPs the chance to challenge it publicly. SPICING UP DEBATING FORMATS All groups also agree that the blue card system should be allowed to be used more often by lawmakers. The ECR is proposing a new debate format called “right-left” in which political groups with opposite views on big policy issues — such as the Green Deal and migration — “challenge each other’s positions directly.” To boost attendance, many groups asked Roberta Metsola to ban side events during plenary week. | Olivier Matthys/EPA The Greens similarly want “controversial topics” to be prioritized when scheduling debates, and are also proposing a new debate format in which one MEP in charge of a file or topic is grilled for 60 minutes. “After short opening statements, members can respond and rebut directly, allowing for genuine dialogue,” the proposal reads. Several groups are calling on the Parliament to schedule the debates right before voting on the topic or file, either at the plenary or committee level — with some even asking to schedule key debates during voting sessions. FEWER EMPTY SEATS To boost attendance, many groups asked Metsola to ban side events during plenary week. Ushers should also sit MEPs attending the debate in the front rows, instead of their usual allocated seat, to make it more lively, the letters say. Another idea is to reduce the number of debates to focus lawmakers’ attention on those that really matter — in particular getting rid of the many debates on foreign affairs, on which, as the S&D pointed out, the Parliament has limited authority. All letters stopped short, however, of proposing an incentives and sanctions regime for MEPs to actually show up. ‘The EPP believes it’s important to improve attendance and we reflect on the possibilities,” said the party’s chief whip, Jeroen Lenaers, when asked why they ignored Metsola’s request for suggestions. The Patriots did not respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.

KYIV — There were cheers in Ukraine and the EU when the Trump administration sanctioned Russia’s two biggest oil companies Wednesday. The U.S. sanctions “are a clear signal that prolonging the war and spreading terror come at a cost,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Thursday. “This is a fair and absolutely deserved step. It is precisely pressure on Russia that will be effective for achieving peace, and sanctions are one of its key components.” He also called it “a strong and much-needed message.” The U.S. slapped sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and their subsidiaries in an attempt to pressure Russia to take ceasefire negotiations more seriously. “I just felt it was time,” Trump said less than a week after he announced that he’d be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary and declared that the Russian leader was ready for peace. This was the first time Trump has slapped any sanctions on Russia. The European Union’s 19th package of sanctions against Russia will likely be approved Thursday after Slovakia dropped its opposition late Wednesday. Across the bloc, there was also support for the U.S. move. U.S. “Treasury decision to sanction major Russian oil companies in the face of Russia’s lack of commitment to the peace process. With the imminent adoption of the EU’s 19th package, this is a clear signal from both sides of the Atlantic that we will keep up collective pressure on the aggressor,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X Wednesday night. “So it happened. … The beauty of this decision is its comprehensiveness. The complete oil infrastructure is subject to sanctions as it should be. I think the effect will be big and quick,” the Ukrainian president’s sanctions envoy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said in a post on Facebook on Thursday. The sanctions target not only Lukoil and Rosneft but also dozens of their subsidiaries. “Those subsidiaries cover all key links in the oil and gas business — exploration, production, transportation, processing, trade, and service,” Vlasiuk said. Rosneft alone accounts for approximately 40 percent of Russia’s oil production and 14 percent of its gas production, and remains the primary contributor to the federal budget, having paid 6.1 trillion rubles in taxes in 2024. The company also has a fleet of at least 39 vessels. “What adds spice to this particular solution is that Lukoil, Rosneft, and others were preparing cooperation proposals for the U.S. — on the eve of Anchorage [summit], Reuters reported this, and we also knew about it from other sources,” Vlasiuk said. “U.S. sanctions open Pandora’s box. We are working to have more.”

BRUSSELS — The European Union is striving to project unity as it races to negotiate a high-stakes trade deal with Washington, but backstage, national divisions threaten to weaken its negotiating hand. “Nobody in Europe wants to escalate,” European Council President António Costa said last weekend. “Nobody wants a conflict.“ That’s also a message EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will be keen to convey as he meets with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday for a potentially decisive round of talks. It will be the last chance to clinch an initial political agreement before a July 8 deadline set by President Donald Trump to do a deal or face 50 percent “reciprocal” tariffs.  Away from the diplomatic dance, however, EU countries don’t always see eye-to-eye on how best to deal with the White House. And as so often, the diversity of views held by the bloc’s 27 national leaders — all catering to domestic interest groups and voters — is making it difficult for Šefčovič to drive a hard bargain. The Commission is set to brief EU ambassadors on the talks on Friday. Whether it can quickly announce a breakthrough will depend largely on their feedback. On the final stretch, Brussels continues to push to lower the baseline 10 percent tariff that Trump imposed on most U.S. trading partners in April. It has, however, signaled it could be ready to accept 10 percent should other conditions be met, such as providing immediate relief for specific industries. “There are some differences emerging, which I think should be discussed and composed quickly, because it’s a problem,” Brando Benifei, a senior lawmaker who chairs the European Parliament’s delegation to the United States, told POLITICO in an interview. “This emergence of diverging views from those that seem willing to accept the 10 percent as part of an agreement that would counter the rest, and those that are saying that such a high base tariff is so far from what we do on our side — it is something that should never be accepted,” added the Italian Social Democrat. “I agree with the second camp.” A Commission trade spokesperson pushed back against that characterization of the debate. “There has been a far higher than usual level of consultation with our member states, which is why we have had this very striking level of unity all along,” they told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday. HEAVYWEIGHTS CLASH German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are the most vocal proponents of a fast deal — even at the price of greater concessions to the White House.  At a summit of EU leaders last week, Merz argued that “it’s better to act quickly and simply than slowly and in a highly complicated way.” During the discussion, he “pointed out individual industries … in Germany — the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, mechanical engineering, steel, aluminum, the automotive industry — [that] are all currently being burdened with such high tariffs that it is really putting companies at risk.” Meloni — a Trump ally — has described the 10 percent U.S. tariff as “not particularly impactful for us.” One EU diplomat, granted anonymity to speak candidly, described Rome as “quite keen to maintain good relationships and willing to accept a lot” in talks about the tariffs. The German chancellor has mostly been pushing for lower rates for specific sectors, such as the powerful car industry that drives its export-led economy. That has gone down well in Washington, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick observing last month that “Germany would like to make a deal — but they’re not allowed.”  That may not be in the wider European interest, argues David Kleimann, a senior trade expert at the ODI think tank in Brussels.  “The Commission has so far — fortunately — pushed back against the most immediate German instincts,” Kleimann said. “At the same time, the Commission now appears to be willing to accept an agreement — with a landing zone involving sectoral carve-outs from a 10 percent U.S. baseline tariff — that would …  erode fundamental principles of the rules-based trading system and undermine EU strategic autonomy.” SYMMETRY IN ASYMMETRY At the other end of the spectrum are Paris and Madrid, which want to resist the U.S. president’s roughhouse negotiating tactics, according to two EU diplomats who were granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door trade talks. At last week’s summit, French President Emmanuel Macron — who has been pushing for weeks for Trump to remove all tariffs — initially argued against rushing to accept an “asymmetrical” agreement just to meet Trump’s deadline. At the end of the meeting, however, he indicated he might be willing to accept a 10 percent tariff under certain conditions. “It would be best to have the lowest tariff possible, zero percent is the best. But if it’s 10 percent, it’ll be 10 percent,” he said. “If the American choice falls on 10 percent, there will be a compensation on goods sold by the United States. The levy will result in the same levy on U.S. goods.” Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, meanwhile, has tasted Trump’s anger: The U.S. president threatened new tariffs against Madrid last week after Sánchez refused to increase defense spending in line with other allies at a NATO summit — even though that wouldn’t be doable as the EU’s members operate as a trade bloc. To add spice to the mix, smaller countries are also bringing their own demands to the table — all keen to shield their own sensitive industries. Some, whose trade with the U.S. is balanced, are reluctant to take the heat for the bloc’s overall trade surplus with the U.S., for which a handful of countries led by Germany are responsible. Giorgia Meloni — a Trump ally — has described the 10 percent U.S. tariff as “not particularly impactful for us.” | Giuseppe Lami/EPA The split also impacts the EU’s retaliation playbook, which the Commission is preparing in order to be ready to fire back quickly if needed. In addition to initial retaliation measures — approved but not yet implemented — targeting €21 billion in U.S. exports in response to Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, the Commission has proposed another €95 billion package over his reciprocal and car tariffs.  Special pleading by member countries would reduce the impact to €25 billion, the executive warned last month. Should this week’s talks fail, that discord threatens to undermine the bloc’s ability to impose significant pain on the U.S. economy when EU trade ministers meet on July 14 to take a final decision on the retaliation measures. “Although some member states signal that they could live with the 10 percent if the rest is solved, I still think it’s not a good idea,” said Benifei, the Italian MEP. “You should have countermeasures if we end up in the deal with the 10 percent.”

LONDON — Keir Starmer came to power promising to reset Britain’s relationship with the European Union. As 2025 rolls in, that’s looking tricker than he thought. By all accounts, the new U.K. prime minister is getting on well with EU leaders. But misunderstandings over visas for young people, disputes over fish, and the small matter of being taken to court by the European Commission have put a dampener on things. To get the show back on track, Starmer has filled his diary with trips to Brussels, including a major EU-U.K. summit penciled in for “the first half of 2025.” A separate meeting in the Belgian capital at the beginning of February will focus on security, while Brexit Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is planning to meet his EU counterpart Maroš Šefčovič roughly every two weeks — as negotiations enter what he calls a “new phase.” The Brexit reset, it seems, is getting a reset of its own. BOGGED DOWN While London and Brussels both say they want to improve the U.K-EU relationship, they are yet to nail down exactly what that would mean in practice. The February meeting could be an opportunity to fix that. Of the “several strands” where cross-channel cooperation could be improved, a defense agreement is emerging as the most promising, according to one senior EU official. “We see strong potential to move forward with the U.K. on a defense agreement,” the official commented. “The meeting on Feb. 3 is a good opportunity to discuss this. Then we have to assess whether we have agreement to move forward with that, on both sides.” Making progress on an area where London and Brussels see most eye to eye could help put the reset exercise back on track in other areas. Britain’s new government spent most of the fall bogged down in questions over where it stands on EU demands for a youth mobility scheme — which Brussels sees as essential to the reset. The young Labour administration is worried the idea smells too much like EU migration, a difficult political issue in Britain. It hasn’t ruled the idea out, but the official line is that it has “no plans.” That hasn’t stopped the questions. “I’ve been clear from the get-go that freedom of movement is a red line for us, and no plans in relation to free movement on any level, but we’re entering into discussions,” Starmer told the Brexit-supporting Sun newspaper when asked about the scheme in the run up to Christmas. Unlike freedom of movement, a youth mobility program would simply make it easier for British and European youngsters to access time-limited visas to move across the Channel for a few years. The idea polls well, but Labour strategists remain worried. Brexit Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is planning to meet his EU counterpart Maroš Šefčovič roughly every two weeks. | Benjamin Cremel/Getty Images Despite a careful start to talks and few solid demands, Starmer has already found himself accused of betraying Brexit by Euroskeptics back home. Tory opposition leader Kemi Badenoch used her last parliamentary question before Westminster’s Christmas break to lambast the prime minister for “planning to give away our hard-won Brexit freedoms,” while Euroskeptic newspapers have already characterized a corps of civil servants set up to work on talks as a “surrender squad.” Meanwhile, the perceived indecision is starting to grate on the other side of the Channel. A recent delegation of members of the European Parliament to the U.K. ended with the chair of Strasbourg’s Committee on Foreign Affairs quoting ’90s girl band the Spice Girls: “Tell us what you want, what you really, really want.” The Parliament’s standing delegation to the U.K. in December also passed a text warning that “concrete commitments” were needed to prevent Starmer’s diplomatic exercise turning into a “reset in name only.” Europe’s political tides have also conspired against Starmer. The British prime minister spent much of his first six months in office building a close relationship with social democratic German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is now on his way out and widely expected to be replaced by a conservative. SHIBBOLETHS Apart from youth mobility, Brussels has made clear it sees extended access for European fishing fleets as the entry price to talks — another politically sensitive area and rallying point of Euroskeptics. The U.K.’s own demands aren’t entirely straightforward, either. Brussels has indicated that a Labour manifesto commitment to sign a new deal on agricultural produce would require Britain to sign up to further European Court of Justice oversight — another Brexiteer shibboleth. A separate election promise — a better deal for touring British artists — is looking difficult to achieve while freedom of movement remains a red line in London. At a parliamentary committee hearing in December, Brexit Minister Thomas-Symonds repeatedly referred to his party’s manifesto promises as “examples” of things which could be achieved, compounding the uncertainty as to exactly what London is after. In the early months of 2025, the EU-U.K. summit will act as a target for Thomas-Symonds and his EU counterpart Šefčovič to work towards. Both have said that by that meeting, they want to see significant progress. While the clock is ticking, the deadline is not as dramatic as it could be: Brussels and London will ultimately control the date of the meeting — which is yet to be set. Even the format for the gathering is yet to be confirmed: one EU official told POLITICO it’s likely to consist of at least Starmer and the heads of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament. Another diplomat suggested member states could have a role to play, too. It’s a fitting state of affairs for a summit about a relationship where nothing yet seems to be quite nailed down.

LONDON — All is quiet in London’s SW1 as the U.K.’s politicians, officials, journalists and assorted Westminster creatures are busy brining turkeys or sipping early morning Buck’s Fizz. Luckily for you, POLITICO is still here to bring you inside the room where it happens — even today. We asked Westminster’s biggest names for their favorite Christmas cooking tip — including what to drink while slaving over the oven for the next 12 hours. ALL THE TRIMMINGS Keir Starmer, prime minister: Playbook made attempts to get an answer out of Starmer … but he must not have been feeling festive this year.  Kemi Badenoch, Tory leader: Alcohol and butter make everything better. Rachel Reeves, chancellor: Christmas Day is always very traditional with me cooking turkey and all the trimmings for six of us. On Boxing Day, I will be cooking for the wider family. My tip this year is to make port and Stilton gravy if you’re doing beef — as we are on Boxing Day. The Christmas cake was made in advance, but is iced on Christmas Eve. Wes Streeting, health secretary: If you’re looking for a show-stopping ham for Boxing Day, look no further than Nigella’s ham in Coca-Cola. It sounds disgusting, but it is the nicest ham I’ve ever prepared.  Kay Burley, Sky News host: Northern girls love gravy and all my guests also do when I add mustard at the start and a dollop of jam just before I serve. I also always make Eton Mess (of Brexit) as we call it in our house! Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader: Get to the pub at midday. Queue outside, I do, knocking on the door, “come on open up.” I’ve done it since I was 18 and I’ve no intention of stopping. My tip is to not stay too long; otherwise, people at home cooking Christmas lunch get very upset. Kemi Badenoch, Tory leader: Alcohol and butter make everything better. | Sebastein Bozon/Getty Images Steve Reed, environment secretary: I’m barbecuing the turkey this year, so I can’t tell you yet whether that’s a top tip or a total disaster! Other than that — brining the turkey overnight massively improves the flavor. Liz Truss, ex-prime minister: My top tips for the perfect roast potatoes — don’t peel them, don’t parboil them and don’t even worry about preheating the oven. Simply cut them into chunks and put them straight into a roasting pan lined with olive oil or goose fat and put them in the oven. To ensure the perfect crispy exterior, just give them a good shake halfway through cooking. WAIT, WHAT, PIZZA? Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief executive: With a blend of vegetarians and carnivores in the family, we started a new tradition of homemade pizza from scratch for our Christmas meal during lockdown and have kept it going. There is nothing like the smell of rising dough when you come back from a Christmas walk and we all get to put on our favorite toppings together. Mel Stride, shadow chancellor: Mine would be cocktail-related as one of my proudest possessions is my cocktail cabinet! I would recommend a spiced Negroni for Christmas. Classic Negroni, but use gin spiced with star anise, cinnamon and nutmeg. Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury: My favorite cocktail is a simple Negroni — equal measures of gin (ideally Plymouth, infused in the fridge with cinnamon, star anise, cloves and bay leaf for a festive twist), Campari and sweet vermouth; stirred with ice and a slice of orange. But my unexpected new skill of 2024 has been making mezcal cocktails. Swap out the gin for mezcal for a more earthy and smoky Negroni, more fitting for winter than the summery original. David Lammy, foreign secretary: Add a serving of Guyanese pepperpot to the side of your  Christmas turkey. My aunt bringing this around always puts our family in the festive mood. Scarlett Maguire, director at JL Partners: My dog Merlin will only eat meat that I have personally cooked, so I will be making a special bit of turkey for her (a whole separate turkey crown to roast, which is obviously ridiculous but will feed her for days). My tip is to get a cute dog, but to avoid spoiling them so much that they will only eat luxury meals. Ed Davey, Lib Dem leader: Christmas Day is my birthday so I insist on Yorkshire puddings whatever the fare — and to make great Yorkshires you need a super hot oven and tins with very hot oil. Laura Trott, shadow education secretary: My best Christmas cooking tip is curry paste in your gravy, it’s a Trott family tradition. SPUDS AND PUDS Sadiq Khan, mayor of London: Christmas is the time for cracking out the old recipes, but don’t be afraid of a little change and sprucing up your dinner. A little flavored butter in your turkey, chestnuts in your sprouts and try out a little festive spice in your sides — and don’t scrimp on the black pepper. Jacob Rees-Mogg, reality TV star: My best tip would be not to seek my advice on culinary matters. Christmas is the time for cranking out old recipes, but don’t be afraid of a little change and sprucing up your dinner. | Darek Delmanowicz/EPA Jane Hartley, U.S. ambassador to London: At my holiday receptions at Winfield House, I have started a tradition that brings a little taste of home to London by serving a classic cocktail: the Manhattan. And if that’s too strong, we’re always ready to serve up a warm cup of tea (heated in the microwave, of course). I also serve another American tradition: my favorite burger from my hometown of New York City. Stephen Bush, FT associate editor: Parboil your potatoes then roast them in sunflower oil. It makes them a lovely texture outside, but unlike goose fat means they still taste like actual potatoes. Michael Gove, Spectator editor: This year you should try making clootie dumpling — a classic Scottish Christmas dessert. It’s like a less flamboyant Christmas pudding, which you also get to drown in custard. Stephen Bush, Labour peer: It’s only the fifth time in over a century that Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah coincide. We’ll be bringing the two traditions together with roast turkey, all the veg, and some super crispy potato latkes. For the best latkes, all the liquid has to be squeezed out of the grated potato, before they are fried in the hottest of oil. Jessica Elgot, the Guardian’s deputy political editor: My cooking tip is when you deep fry latkes, you put a little nub of unpeeled carrot in the center of the pan. It picks up all the little black bits as you deep fry the potato latke. Ed Balls, GMB host: Yorkshire puddings work well with every roast including turkey on Christmas Day — ignore the “roast beef only” zealots. The key is really hot oil in really hot tins, at least 220 in a fan oven. I do 85 milliliters plain flour, two eggs, 130 milliliters milk plus a splash of water and salt and pepper and cook the batter in the super hot tins for 15 minutes. Success guaranteed! Yvette Cooper, home secretary: My tip is to get Ed to cook! Nigel Huddleston, Tory chair: Don’t boil Brussels sprouts but fry them with bacon, chestnuts and a bit of brown sugar. Lizzy Buchan, the Mirror’s political editor: Top tip from my house is special scrambled eggs for Christmas morning — with a hefty dose of double cream and white pepper. Start the day as you mean to go on! Emily Thornberry, Labour MP: I make my Irish grandmother’s Christmas pudding on “Stir up Sunday” and soak the fruit in brandy the night before cooking it. It contains a potato. I always make an extra one with the idea of also eating it at Christmas the next year. It always goes green and gets thrown out. This year it hasn’t. We are going to see. Pray for us! Jonathan Reynolds, business secretary: Cook your Yorkshire puddings first, then put them back in the oven to heat up for a few minutes before serving. It’s a game-changer. CORBYN: DON’T WASTE FOOD Steve Swinford, the Times’ political editor: Ditch the turkey and do a joint you actually love! This year will be lamb stuffed with rosemary and garlic with all the trimmings. We also ditch the Christmas pudding for sticky toffee pudding. Delicious. Happy Christmas, everyone. Andrew Griffith, shadow business and trade secretary: The best roast parsnips involve proper butcher’s goose fat, removing the cores before roasting and then serving tossed with honey, mustard and finely chopped bacon lardons. Alex Wickham, Bloomberg’s political editor: Get everyone else out of the kitchen to avoid rows and podcasts. Put honey and soy sauce on your sprouts. Lemon juice and fresh parsley on your carrots and parsnips. Gravy and bread sauce from scratch. Nice loaf for a sandwich the next day. And no need to rush — it’s Christmas. For Brussels sprouts, if you must have them at all, use salt and some olive oil. | Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images Bridget Phillipson, education secretary: For perfect, crisp roast potatoes — coat the parboiled potatoes in cornflour before putting them in the oven. Andrew Mitchell, Tory MP: On Christmas Day the Mitchell family waits for the start of their festivities until the king’s speech at 3 p.m. — perhaps appropriately for the member of parliament for Royal Sutton Coldfield. This year we will kick off with one of the finest English “Champagnes” from the Chilworth Manor vineyards in the heart of the Surrey hills! Miatta Fahnbulleh, energy minister: A bit of jerk seasoning on the turkey. Gives it a real kick!  Jeremy Corbyn, Independent MP: Firstly, for Brussels sprouts, if you must have them at all, use salt and some olive oil. Secondly, don’t waste food — there is always tomorrow. Ben Riley-Smith, The Telegraph’s political editor: My personal favorite is making mulled cider. The secret key ingredient is pomegranate seeds. They turn the brew a lush red and burst with juice when consumed. Catherine West, foreign minister: I made a batch of Christmas puddings at October half-term which are ready for steaming on Christmas Day and to give away as gifts. Definitely to be served with brandy butter as opposed to brandy sauce. Craig Beaumont, the Federation of Small Businesses executive director: I’d suggest serving honey roast parsNICs (sorry) and turkey — preferably from a British family farm! Lucy Powell, leader of the House of Commons: For the perfect Christmas gravy, add port to the turkey juices and trivet (a baking tray with all the veg and stuff you put under the bird/roast) first, before making the gravy. Tom McTague, UnHerd’s political editor: Don’t open the Champagne too early, start cooking and set the kitchen on fire as once happened to one member of my family!