In this New Year’s column last year, I made a few predictions for what might happen in 2016. The local ones went ok: I said we’d get to 90% superfast broadband coverage – we have; I said I’d push for a National School’s Funding Formula – we’ve got one; and I said I’d start making the case to Ministers for some road improvements to access Mendip from the M5 – I have.
And then there was my prediction on the EU Referendum. Reproduced in full here:
“In February, the Prime Minister will report back on his renegotiation with the EU and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did not announce plans for a referendum soon afterwards. I expect a ‘snap’ referendum to be contentious so there will be plenty of shenanigans in Westminster as both camps seek maximum advantage through the timing of the vote.”
Yep, that was it - just a bit of insight into the timing of the referendum itself. I laughed when I read it back to my team last week; the political earthquake of the referendum and all that followed was way out of sight. Inconceivable even. At that point, Cameron was going to get a decent deal from the EU, we’d vote overwhelmingly for that renegotiated membership and then we could get on with all the other things that needed to be done like celebrating England winning Euro 2016 and congratulating Hilary Clinton on being elected President.
Next week, some thoughts on 2017 which probably won’t be worth reading given how lame my predictions for 2016 were. But in the meantime, I wish you all a very happy New Year.