The first end of year review

 The first end of year review.

It would be tempting to look back on the year of 2024 and conclude that nothing of any real noteworthy importance had taken place in the grander scheme of things. This is not to suggest that this year has been the most boring since the beginning of time. There have been plenty of topical distractions and major incidents that may have captured our imagination for a while and then disappeared into the history books never to be heard or seen again. 

For instance during the summer, the political power game took on a radically different dimension, a moment of time that had to be recorded for posterity because it meant a changing of the guard, new ideologies, a fresh injection of different ideas, idealistic mindsets, heartfelt ambitions and, realistically, more of the same. We thought the Tories would never leave the building at any point and that they left 10 Downing Street back in June of this year, remains a testament to their fearsome determination to hang on and their failure to read the minds of the great British public. 

In fact so delusional and obstinate had the Conservative party become before being rudely kicked out of office during the summer, that some of us believed they were simply looking for miracles. Their sell by date had long since passed, their once impregnable popularity had dwindled to its lowest point and even some of their most fervent loyalists were scratching each other's eyes out. In fact, some Tory backbenchers, rabid rebels and riotous renegades were positively mauling their own party into the ground, punching, gouging and ripping each other's ears out. It was an unseemly, ugly and terribly unacceptable spectacle. 

But the truth of the matter is that Sir Keir Starmer is the new Prime Minister of the UK and this one can't be disputed. We may not like what we see but the Labour party are back as leaders of the country once again and if you don't like it, you may have to emigrate to another country which just seems childish and smacks of desperation. Already, disenchantment has set in with a vengeance, a grumbling soundtrack to our lives that simply sounds like a ropy old record single from the 1960s that may have been played too many times so much so that it has now become simply unplayable and keeps getting stuck. 

In recent weeks, Starmer has been desperately trying to keep the boat afloat with a wave of warm reassurances and soothing messages that, in the eyes of some, are just inadequate and not nearly good enough to pacify those who have always suffered anxiety attacks. Politics is probably the last career choice you'd have made at school since only a masochist would fancy their chances of becoming a House of Commons parliamentary force. It's asking for trouble and only the foolhardy would think that they could do any better than Starmer. 

Starmer has been shaking ingratiating hands with climate change ministers, speaking bluntly about the future of the planet with his passionate commitment to cleaner air, an insistent emphasis on the environment's good health for generations to come and a general goodwill to all man and womankind. Then he keeps telling us that the phenomenal tax hikes on the nation's working classes have to be of long term benefit and that magic wands can't be waved because they simply don't exist. 

Then, having travelled half way around the world, he lands back at Heathrow and finds the natives are restless and incensed. The Labour party promised them marmalade trees, vividly coloured rainbows, lands of marshmallow cosiness and comfort before winding up with speeches on satisfaction guaranteed. The numbers and figures are being added up and multiplied as we speak, a balancing act of financial shrewdness that is bound to be felt sooner rather than later. It's all looking like wine and roses. Allegedly, anyway. 

But Starmer is an immensely qualified human rights barrister- cum lawyer who knows his legal onions and the jury are convinced he's not guilty. Not yet, anyway. Give that man a chance, the impartial observers mutter in private. He'll get it right undoubtedly so. That winter fuel allowance crisis may just be a passing phase that just disappears and nobody will get hurt. So this is just a matter of trustworthiness and an unwavering belief that Starmer will emerge as the all conquering hero. 

So here we are a couple of weeks away from festive over indulgence, eating, drinking and being merry, families testing each other's patience to the limit and interesting meetings in France. The Prince of Wales, who will now be identified as the bearded William, bumped into the President elect of the USA Donald Trump and it all looked very cheery, amicable and diplomatic or so it seemed. There were respectful smiles all around although it would have been marvellous to be the proverbial fly on the wall when these discussions got going. 

Then the President of France Emmanuel Macron started grinning at everybody and the air of entente cordiale and friendly conviviality became increasingly obvious. Perhaps Macron was thinking about vineyards and healthy bottles of French wine. You have to keep your global neighbours by your side and the soon to be President Trump must know this better than most. Public relations was never Trump's strong point but business has to be negotiated in a tactful manner although maybe we've underestimated Trump since business is certainly his forte. 

Meanwhile, back at 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer stood outside the most famous door in Britain and switched on the Christmas tree lights. In Trafalgar Square they were doing exactly the same thing and we all know that Norway have never been a disappointment. It's beginning to a lot like Christmas so the song goes. In the outside world though, politics and royalty have never really seen eye to eye since impartiality has to be the word so in Westminster and Buckingham Palace everything has to be as it is.

We must hope and pray for the continued and complete recoveries from cancer of both King Charles the Third and the delightful Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. This has not been their year and that has to be the biggest understatement of the past 12 months. For those who embrace the cult of celebrity the dizzy heights of adulation are nothing new. But let's hope our year has been a healthy, happy one and the next year one of unadulterated joyousness. It's over to you Sir Keir Starmer.