Jeremy Corbyn and Sam Hadfield handing out Christmas gifts

JEREMY Corbyn donned his Santa hat to distribute gifts to members of the public in the street over Christmas, writes Calum Fraser.

The Labour Party leader joined volunteers from Streets Kitchen, a charity for homeless people, on December 23 and 24 to hand out toys and food to passers-by outside of his son Tommy’s shop in Stroud Green Road.

The toys had been donated and wrapped by parents from the nearby St Aidans Primary School in Albany Road.

Sam Hadfield, who helped organise the event, said: “We do a lot of homeless work but we wanted to do this just to give to random members of the public.

It really shocked me how many grandparents turned up to get toys for their grandkids.

“We know there is so much wealth in this area, but there is also so much poverty. A grandad should be able to buy a present for his grandchildren. We’ve decided we’re going to do this every year now.”

He added: “Jeremy has helped me quite a lot in my life, so it’s not a big surprise that he would come out over Christmas.

“This is the kind of guy he is. Forget everything else that has happened, he is a local Islington man who wants to help.”

The presents stall was set up outside the National Hemp Service shop that Tommy Corbyn has set up with his girlfriend Chloe Kerslake-Smith.

As the Tribune previously reported, the pair are helping with the “Trick Period” campaign by taking tampon and sanitary towel donations in their shop in a bid to help homeless women over the winter months.