As we come to the end of a tumultuous twelve months, it’s time for another of my annual reviews. So, strap yourself in for “The Ferrari A to Z race through 2025.”
A. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The fall from grace was completed in October after King Charles “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew” The year closes with him mired in deeper scandal. The damage done to ‘The Firm’ is incalculable.
B. Boat crossings. The Labour government’s risible ‘One in, One out’ plan lies in tatters and one Saturday earlier this month 803 arrived, a record for any December day. At the time of writing, the number of arrivals for the year is nudging 42,000, and the number returned 151. An idea that’s all at sea with reality.
C. Chancellor. Rachel Reeves has had a year to forget, from disastrous mixed messages concerning her budget to watching the economy falter and jobs disappear. Watching her weep in July was unsettling, but the truth is we are all weeping now.
D. Ed Davey. After the absurd series of stunts that gained him attention (or perhaps pity?) it’s all gone rather quiet. But, if all you’re known for is falling off a surfboard, that can happen!
E. Eurovision Song Contest. As the boycott over Israel’s participation next year grows, the essential spirit of togetherness seems forgotten. Mind you, it might give the UK a chance to win for the first time since 1997.
F. Faiths. A year in which we gained both a new Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope. Dame Sarah Mullally will be the Church’s first Archbishop in its 1,400-year history. Meanwhile in May, Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Here’s hoping them both rise to their respective challenges, the world needs all the help it can get.
G. GDP. Have no doubt, we are facing a growth crisis with the GDP figures for the last three months being 0.2 per cent, 0.1 and then minus 0.1 respectively. You cannot tax your way to growth, as is being disastrously demonstrated.
H. Hero. While the massacre at Bondi beach showed us pure evil, it gave the world an undoubted hero in Ahmed al-Ahmed, the Syrian-born shopkeeper who tackled one of the gunmen saving countless lives. If anyone deserves a quiet New Year, it must be him.
I. Air India. In June, Flight 171 from Ahmedabad to London took off with 12 crew and 230 passengers on board. Within seconds it had plummeted to the ground and – defying all logic – leaving just one survivor. The accident investigation is still not complete adding untold extra agony to those poor families.
J. Jilly Cooper. A huge source of fun and an indomitable spirit was lost when the great Dame died in October. It also got a lot quieter in the countryside, as the riotous bonking calmed considerably.
K. Kiss cam. If the world hadn’t heard of a camera searching the audience for good shots during shows and sports events, it did after Kristin Cabot was caught in a close embrace with her boss Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert in July. The resulting furore meant they had to “kiss” goodbye to their jobs.
L. Luke Littler. It was in January the darts ace beat three times world champ Michael van Gerwen, which set him on the path to earning £6.5 million – aged 18! Not bad for a lad who left school with one GCSE.
M. Middle East. Regrettably, another 12-months have passed and we seem no nearer a solution. While progress was made with the return of all the hostages, or in some instances their remains, a real peace appears as elusive as ever.
N. NHS. Just as the waiting lists started to come down, the Resident Doctors went on strike yet again. They should take the nation’s temperature, as it is cooling off distinctly towards their pay claims.
O. Outages. Everything from banks to power stations and social media sites to holiday bookings have “gone down” over the past 12-months. All of which makes it inexplicable to me why so many opt to live their entire lives online.
P. Panorama. The unforgivable deliberate misrepresentation of one of President Trump’s speeches in this supposed “flagship news show” meant farewell to the news chief and Director General and finished a year replete with calamities at the BBC, including the Hamas documentary, and the Gregg Wallace and Bob Vylan scandals leaving it now as tarnished as it has been in decades.
Q. Queen Elizabeth. If there is any comfort to be drawn from her death it can only be she has not had to witness the unceasing scandal surrounding her supposed “favourite son.”
R. Rage bait. Supposedly the word of the year, (no, me neither!) is where content is created online to deliberately annoy or outrage people. Tells you a lot about the past 12-months, that this is the “Word of the Year”, doesn’t it?
S. Six, seven. It was in November at a primary school in Peterborough when Sir Keir Starmer chose to lead pupils in the banned “six, seven” dance meme. Apologising to the teacher, he claimed: “I didn’t start it, Miss.” Come on PM, dobbing in a six-year-old isn’t a good look!
T. Traitors. Millions tuned in to the brilliant celebrities’ version of this TV show in October featuring a superb cast with equally brilliant storytelling and staging. They’ll have their work cut out to beat it.
U. Ukraine. Much as with the Middle East crisis, it seems peace here is equally unlikely. Unfortunately, there was also little peace in that ugly confrontation in February in the White House between Presidents Trump and Zelensky.
V. Veterans. Events were held across the country to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, giving us a chance to honour our veterans. Sadly, it is likely to be the last major anniversary any of them will be able to witness.
W. Women’s sport. In July, the Lionesses beat Spain to win Women’s football Euros and in September the Red Roses defeated Canada to win the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Err, fellas … COME ON!
X. Poll after poll has shown voters not putting their X, or vote, towards the traditional two big parties as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK continues to grow. His challenge will be to maintain that momentum for, possibly, three years!
Y. Your Party. Announced in July initially with a range of baffling potential names, the left-wing socialist party is yet another headache for Labour and Sir Keir Starmer.
Z. Zack Polanski. See the above! As committed Labour followers lose patience with this government, many are attracted to the Green Party, despite its leader once bizarrely suggesting he could use the power of his mind to increase the size of women’s breasts.
