It’s been a year of momentous events and rapid change worldwide across the political, media and cultural divides.
Trump defying all odds, Syria delivering horror after horror and Brexit exposing deep fissures in not just the Conservative Party but the whole country… 2016 was the year the music died, with Bowie, Prince and Leonard Cohen departing us, although Ed Balls’ popularity was resurrected with a Gangnam Style salsa and a piano set ablaze.
We’ve seen corporate scandals with train strikes, doping investigations and Sir Philip Green becoming a national villain; sporting triumphs for Andy Murray and Team GB and the odd disaster, Iceland defeating us in the knock-out stage of the Euros, if it’s not too painful to recall.
2016, while it will become the trusted response to many a pub quiz chin scratcher, is hard to sum up. Luckily, we have asked five of Pagefield’s friends, who also happen to be some of Britain’s brightest commentators, to take up the challenge by answering five quick-fire questions on the year that was and what happens next. We will publish one each day.
First up is Philip Collins, of The Times.
2016 in 3 words
“Brexit Trumps Expectation”
Biggest political surprise
“Donald Trump. A President who does not believe in the dignity of office.”
PR triumph / PR disaster
“Trump doing an impression of a disabled person and still winning. Triumph and disaster together.”
Wild card prediction
“Jeremy Corbyn will acknowledge he should be on his allotment and give up.”
NY Resolution
“Never to use the word Brexit.”
