Norway’s gift for Trafalgar Square

THE Lord Mayor of Westminster was due to switch on the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree yesterday evening, Thursday, amid the now usual swirl of online trolling of the Norway spruce.

The towering tree, cut down in Oslo last week, is part of a tradition dating from World War II.

King Haakon VII first sent a tree in 1947 to thank Britain for supporting Norway and its people to carry on the struggle against the Nazis.

Westminster mayor Hamza Taouzzale said: “It brings us together, no matter your faith, no matter your age, no matter where you’re from.”

But critics have once again laid into the tree before it has been decorated and lit up. Rob Barker, in a tweet, said the tree was a “sad pathetic sight”, adding: “Time to call this joke off once and for all.”

The Larry the Cat Twitter account said: “Judging by the photos of the Trafalgar Square tree being felled last week in Norway and arriving today, it’s been transported as hand luggage on Ryanair.”

The British embassy in Oslo said online that the tree had been “in perfect condition when it left” and was a symbol of the close relationship between the two countries.

City council deputy leader Tim Roca said: “Perhaps we should stop knocking it just because it doesn’t look like it’s out of Disney.”