2016 has, at times, been stranger than fiction. Not only has it meant that the WA team has been kept on their toes providing insight and analysis of developments to our clients, but it has also been hugely entertaining as a spectator sport.
As we approach the end of what has been an incredible 12 months, the WA team has looked back at their personal highlights from amongst the best, worst and most politically ludicrous moments of the year.
“A definite highlight was David Cameron quietly singing the West Wing theme tune to himself after handing over the keys to No 10 – later described by Classic FM as ‘Cameron’s Lament’.” Alice Buckley, Senior Account Executive
“Potentially too many to mention, but some particular favourites were:
- Tom Watson being stuck at Glastonbury during the Labour coup.
- Tim Loughton leading a march on parliament for Andrea Leadsom’s leadership campaign.
- Andrea Leadsom’s ‘mother’ interview.
- Zac Goldsmith getting run over by his own car on the eve of the Richmond Park by-election.
- No media turning up to Angela Eagle’s leadership campaign launch press conference.
- Sarah Vine accidentally emailing a member of the public slamming Boris Johnson.” Angus Hill, Senior Account Manager
“Ed Balls teaching Nick Robinson how to dance ‘Gangnam Style’ after an interview on the Today Programme about independent central banks.” Emily Cameron, Account Director
“The ongoing battle for feline supremacy outside No.10 between Larry and Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat. I hope this bitter feud will be resolved peacefully in 2017.” Rebecca Brake, Senior Account Manager
“July 2016. The country faces up to the reality of the EU referendum result. Cameron is gone and a Conservative leadership election is underway. Praise-be then to the march for Leadsom – reminding us that British politics will always be capable of the farcical, no matter how serious the situation. It made me proud to be British.” Simon Darby, Senior Account Director
“For me it’s a tie between my two favourite moments of 2016 – Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof going head to head on the Thames in their rival referendum flotillas and Jeremy Corbyn’s quintessentially Thick of It realisation: “Seamus I’m not sure this is a great idea either.” Pure political comedy gold.” Lizzie Wills, Associate Director
“My favourites have to be:
- The spectacular Gove / Boris psychodrama.
- Angela Eagle’s repeatedly false starting Labour leadership campaign.
- Too much information about Dianne Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn’s early ‘glory’ years together.
- Trump trolling the UK with calls for Farage to be ambassador.” Marc Woolfson, Director
“There’s only one moment for me… Tom Watson standing up at the annual Labour for Israel lunch and signing an Israeli nationalist song in an effort to (re)build bridges with Labour’s Jewish supporters. Or possibly Ed Miliband being used as a stock photo of a man blowing his nose on NBC amidst a US media frenzy about a potential flu epidemic.” Ben Carroll, Policy and Political Risk Analyst
“Ed Balls’ sterling performance on Strictly Come Dancing, with a special mention for his amazing Gangnam Style routine. An MP Strictly special should be on the cards for 2017!” Natasha Egan Sjodin, Account Executive
“My political highlight is the human kamikaze that is Michael Gove’s political career.” Joe Jones, Account Executive
“It has to be Boris Johnson and Michael Gove’s faces on the 24th June delivering their ‘victory’ speeches after they ‘accidentally’ won the referendum, and looking like they had no idea what to do next.” Nicholas Charalambides, Account Executive
“It’s been a great year for political songs – in particular Tim Farron’s rap, and Labour’s awful Christmas song last week where they all high-five whilst singing (out of tune) about workers’ rights!” Bobbie Davies, Associate Director
“Brexit means breakfast” Jessica March, Senior Account Manager