The ultimate political gift guide

Bring an end to those What-do-I-get-my-Jewish-friends-for-Hanukkah blues with Comment Central.

We’ve been scouring the internet looking for presents for the politically-obsessed Jew in your life so that you don’t have to.

We’ve one present for each day of the festival. But hurry – many of these items are one offs. Treat your friends or treat yourself.

Day One - Signed photo of major statesman - £9.99

Celebrate the lighting of that first candle with this amazing signed picture of Wilfried Martens. It’s been more than 20 years, but who can forget that 36 month period when Martens bestrode the political stage as Prime Minister of Belgium?

Day Two - Book of important policy insights - £7.50

No political book collection is complete without Ishak Haji Omar’s classic study - Market Power, Vertical Linkages, and Government Policy: the Fish Industry in Peninsular Malaysia. Helpful policy suggestions on fish industry structure on every page!

Day Three - Critical diplomatic correspondence - £9.99

Your friend will be thrilled with this, I guarantee. An authentic letter (the original, not a copy), signed by Margaret D. Tutwiler who served the first President Bush as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy for several months. She was also Ambassador to Morocco!

Day Four - Collectible dictatorship memorabilia - $35.00

Egon Krenz may only have been dictator of East Germany for a couple of months, but no one would want to be without their own signed portrait. Taken in the days before he spent six and a half years in jail for his crimes, this smart photo would grace any mantlepiece.

Day Five - Insightful personal credo - $19.50

Hanukkah’s getting on, you’ll have had your fill of Latkes and you will be looking for something to feed your mind. What better than Lee Kuan Yew: the Man and his Ideas, by Fook Kwang Han? Based on thirteen fresh interviews, this handsomely illustrated volume contains many beguiling pictures of Singapore’s leader relaxing with the rest of the Lee family. The cover is in good condition with only a couple of small repairs.

Day Six - Bargain basement Canadian souvenir - $249.00

Here’s the bargain of the political year. For only two hundred and forty nine dollars, a signed photo of former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark can be yours. Was it really less than a year that Clark held office before losing an election and being booted out as party leader so unfairly? It seems so much longer. Hard to understand now why he earned the nickname Joe Who?

Day Seven - Simple political solutions in a handy volume - £1.99

If the political problems of Wales have been keeping you up at night, here’s the perfect gift. Labour MP Clive Betts has been reflecting on the issue and offers us Wales: The Political Conundrum. This rare signed copy will surely be snapped up soon, so hurry! The political mind that has kept Betts on the backbenches for almost his entire political career is amply on display. And you can be almost guaranteed that no one else will have Bett’s signature in their collection. Think how jealous they’ll be!

Day 8 -Complete your set of Vice-Presidential Spouses autographs - various prices - here, here and here.

You’ll need something special for the last day. And what better than autographed items from a brace of vice president’s wives. Thrill to Marilyn Quayle’s pacy novel, Campaign, signed by the national icon herself. Lose yourself in Tipper Gore’s personally autographed photography book and decorate your fridge with a signed Lynne Cheney photo, home décor that will bring admiring remarks from all your friends.....

Comments

[Anthony Wells]

There seems to be an inexplicable insertion of fish on day two Danny. Have you been leaving your computer unattended?

[Steven Van de Walle]

Wilfried Martens was Belgian prime minister for much longer the 36 months. He first became prime minister in April 1979 (till April 1981), and again from December 1981 till March 1992.

[Stevie Gillespie]

The comments in today's Times regarding Alex Salmond and the SNP were absolutely disgraceful. Does anyone think the Scots desire independence because they are anti-English? Don't flatter yourselves, England! The world doesn't end at Dover.