The Westminster panto is in full swing: but there are real dangers waiting in the wings | Aditya Chakrabortty

War, economic breakdown and the climate crisis spell the end of the end of history'. But the comedy villains in charge are oblivious

The hall is shrouded in blackness, the audience ensconced in plush red seats. All heads are turned to the bright lights on stage for that annual ritual, the panto.

In front of us stands Cinderella or Aladdin or Peter Pan, lost in their usual patter, and blind to the baddie looming up ...

Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist