THOUSANDS of unemployed Thomas Cook workers are facing a bleak Christmas, with little money to spare for festivities or even necessities due to the government’s “systematic failure,” Unite has warned.

The union has said that former staff of the liquidated travel agency are under financial strain in the run-up to Christmas.

A confidential survey of Unite’s Thomas Cook members found that 79 per cent will spend less money than last year on presents for adults and 53 per cent will cut spending on children’s gifts.