It Was the Best of Years...

...and it was the worst of years!

Just like Dickens' Tale of Two Cities, this year has been a very mixed time, with pluses and minuses.

Here in Medway, the May local elections were a resounding endorsement for the ruling Conservative Group on the Council. Turnout was up significantly, dirty tricks were rife (and I know the details of some of those!), and yet the number of seats we won went up to the highest it has ever been in the Unitary Authority, while the main opposition's seat count dropped to its lowest ever level -- a mere third of how many they had at the start, just ten years ago.

However, at a national level, the Labour Government is now in what might become an irreversible, terminal decline, which isn't exactly healthy. The new Prime Minister really isn't coping at all well -- and it shows rather obviously in his manner, temper, and sheer dishevelment. The word is that he will be kicked out of office as PM if (as seems almost certain) the May 2008 local elections result in further Labour losses.

Meanwhile, the UK's right to govern itself has been severely compromised through the signing of the so-called EU Reform Treaty, with no referendum of the people. That is a much more serious matter than many people in this country yet realise -- but one day they will, and it'll be too late.

Although there were many triumphs here in Medway this year, including the Tour de France (despite the negativity of some) and the moving forward of several important regeneration projects, there has been little cheer at the national level for a long time now.

Even just up the road in London, recent revelations seem to be echoing the suspicions and concerns of Londoners about why they are paying an ever-increasing additional tax to fund the Livingstone regime with less and less to show for it. This year, at last, some of what has been going on appears to be coming into the public arena. With the London Mayoral elections coming up next year, it looks like a real change will occur just a few months from now.

Thus, despite all the difficulties of the past year, there is the prospect of 2008 seeing a change of Prime Minister (though not necessarily a change of Governing Party -- but who knows?) and a change of London Mayor.

Perhaps this forthcoming year will thus turn out to be one of the best of times!