JUST in case it has slipped your notice, Christmas stuff is already in Inverclyde’s shops and all over the telly.

And, keen as always to get in on on anything popular, Prime Minister David Cameron and his senior ministers have decided to award themselves an early festive treat.

Their gift will be their own aircraft at a knockdown cost of only £10 million because it is a re-fitted Royal Air Force plane.

The government insists it will actually save about £775,000 a year, pointing out it will be cheaper than chartering flights.

Labour and the SNP, not surprisingly, are a bit sceptical, calling for full transparency (some hope!) and saying the size of any savings will be unknown until the plane comes into use.

These revelations have also led to the uncovering of a story about former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who makes so much dough these days he could probably afford to buy his own Dreamliner.

It is now known he wanted his Labour government to purchase TWO private jets — but this profligacy was cancelled by canny Gordon Brown when he moved into Number 10.

Apparently Blair’s proposed aircraft was dubbed ‘Blair Force One’ in reference to Air Force One (the transport used to fly the United States president) and his chummy relationship with George W. Bush.

The Cameron plane, however, will also be available to the Royal Family, and it’s a fair bet that Prince ‘Air Miles’ Andy will be first in the queue!