{"id":2958,"date":"2025-01-02T09:19:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T09:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/why-2025-promises-plenty-of-political-fireworks\/"},"modified":"2025-01-02T09:19:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T09:19:27","slug":"why-2025-promises-plenty-of-political-fireworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/why-2025-promises-plenty-of-political-fireworks\/","title":{"rendered":"Why 2025 promises plenty of political fireworks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Why 2025 promises plenty of political fireworks<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1b5y2ub-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-b294mj-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sir Keir Starmer at the ballot box\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/OwlDYA.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/02d3\/live\/30624310-c74d-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.jpg 976w\" width=\"999\" height=\"562.4369999999999\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1hbb5i-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e8mq1e919\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-h3c0s8-ContributorContainer e8mq1e918\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u2in0b-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e915\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-68pt20-Text-TextContributorName e8mq1e98\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1q14p6q-LinkWithChevronContainer e8mq1e91\"><span class=\"ssrcss-p7p0ja-LinkText e8mq1e94\">Chris Mason<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-182tgvb-IconContainer-IconContainerChevron e8mq1e95\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e912\">Political editor<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e912\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1q14p6q-LinkWithChevronContainer e8mq1e91\"><span class=\"ssrcss-p7p0ja-LinkText e8mq1e94\">@ChrisMasonBBC<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-1b62ywz-IconContainer-IconContainerChevron e8mq1e95\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-jlwt2c-Divider e8mq1e917\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"metadata-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2024-12-31T01:56:26.683Z\">31 December 2024<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Politics in 2025 will be dominated by a single controlling thought: do things start feeling any better?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The answer to that will drive much else in the political conversation: the fortunes, mood and demeanour of the government, the revival or otherwise of the Conservatives and the prominence or otherwise of everyone else.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">2024 was a year of spectacular success for Labour, but their landslide general election win already feels like it was ages ago with the new government taking on a tricky inheritance and garnishing it with some foul-ups of their own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And we head into 2025 with quite the assembly of cocktail ingredients &#8211; a flatlining economy, an impatient electorate and a volatile world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Within weeks, we&#8217;ll see the inauguration of Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">An already unpredictable international backdrop &#8211; from Ukraine to the Middle East &#8211; collides with the most unpredictable man ever to occupy the Oval Office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The implications for trade, for climate change policy, for war and for peace are huge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The prime minister, stung by the social media moniker that he is &#8220;never here Keir&#8221; because he is forever on the international circuit, will inevitably find his attention again drawn to the global stage, while making an argument that it has a direct impact on millions of lives in the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"ssrcss-12l5xzx-LinksComponentWrapper e3eyuya0\">\n<section class=\"ssrcss-msolhr-LinksWrapper e3eyuya5\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-mh3hvv-InContentLinksGrid e3eyuya3\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Starmer seeks to take control after bumpy start<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">5 December 2024<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Keir Starmer: From indie kid to prime minister<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">5 July 2024<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Kemi Badenoch: Who is new Tory leader and what does she stand for?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">2 November 2024<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">There are two inalienable truths in politics that bear repeating: governing is difficult and assembling an electable opposition is difficult.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And perhaps never more so than now, on both counts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Governing in the 2020s is a pretty unforgiving business \u2013 just ask the last PM, Rishi Sunak, or Starmer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Among Sir Keir&#8217;s ministers, I pick up two recurring sentiments about the party&#8217;s first six months in power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The first &#8211; and you can still see it in the eyes of ministers when they reflect upon their work &#8211; is an excitement after years in the wilderness of opposition that they now have power, and are called upon to make decisions every day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But the second is a frustration at too many mistakes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">One minister told me they were fed up at what they saw as lacklustre presentation and communication, particularly of difficult stuff like taking the winter fuel payment away from millions of pensioners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Another acknowledged it had taken them and fellow ministers a while to step up from being administrators, getting a grip of their new jobs and getting used to taking decisions, to being senior politicians in government and taking decisions in a wider, strategic context.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;We are no longer the political wing of the civil service,&#8221; observed one Labour backbencher on that learning curve for the new government, which included the brutal removal of the prime minister&#8217;s first chief of staff, Sue Gray, not long after I was leaked private details of her salary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Politics at Westminster feels much more competitive than the numbers suggest it should: Labour&#8217;s mountainous majority means they will rarely feel even a marginally quickened pulse when it comes to Commons votes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But one of the cliches of 2024, because it is true, is Labour&#8217;s support feels broad but shallow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They won a landslide majority with just 34% of the vote, a lower vote share than any party forming a post war majority government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Opinion polling and approval ratings for both Labour and Sir Keir have taken a hammering since they were elected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1b5y2ub-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1iudona-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><span><\/p>\n<div><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kemi Badenoch speaks into a microphone at the Business Property Relief summit at the London Palladium\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/7R90TK.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/766a\/live\/16c9baa0-be38-11ef-aff0-072ce821b6ab.jpg 976w\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2161.3714285714286\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">So what of the Conservatives and their new leader Kemi Badenoch?<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They have been more chipper and more united than they might have been, given just how big a defeat they went down to back in July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But privately many Tories fear they have not yet hit rock bottom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They look ahead, but do not look forward, to the local elections in England, in May, where plenty of Tories reckon they will go backwards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">This is because the seats being contested were last fought in 2021, a high point for Boris Johnson after the pandemic, so they have plenty of seats to lose.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Senior Tories tell me privately they reckon Badenoch has made a middling start in the toughest of jobs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Even her supporters acknowledge they are relieved she hasn&#8217;t done or said anything that has rebounded on her, given she has something of a reputation for putting her foot in her mouth now and again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And they hope she will shake off a scepticism, bordering on suspicion, of journalists and get out more in the new year to make their case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And they will need to, because the word you hear rather often from Conservative MPs is\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Reform.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The name of Nigel Farage&#8217;s party, Reform UK, sends shivers down many a Tory spine, and Labour aren&#8217;t immune to concerns about them either.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Farage and his team are upbeat and talk in public and in private about their ambition of winning the next general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">That seems a fantastical proposition for an upstart outfit whose entire parliamentary party \u2013 five MPs \u2013 could fit in the back of a taxi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But remember they attracted 4.1 million votes at the general election, 600,000 more than the Liberal Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The issue Reform had was their votes were spread out, rather than piling up in sufficient numbers in particular places to win many seats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In 2025, it will be worth keeping an eye on two men within Reform \u2013 the chair, Zia Yusuf, and the new Treasurer, Nick Candy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They personify Nigel Farage&#8217;s twin aims for his party \u2013 getting more organised and generating money.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The party is trying to build local branches around the country, local nerve centres of enthusiasm that could be the building block for winning more seats at local elections, at devolved elections (coming in Scotland and Wales in 2026) and at the next general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Expect to see a blitz of regional conferences in the opening weeks of the new year to try to drive this growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1b5y2ub-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-m6aw73-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><span><\/p>\n<div><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nick Candy and Nigel Farage, from Reform UK, stand with billionaire Elon Musk in front of a portrait of Donald Trump\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/vCynr6.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/a7b1\/live\/68df5ed0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 976w\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440.3607085346216\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">Stuart Mitchell<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The Lib Dems had a corker of a 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They won beyond their dreams and Sir Ed Davey now leads a party of 72 MPs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Sir Ed remains determined to do politics with a smile \u2013 take his Christmas single as the latest example of that \u2013 and trying to own the issues of social care, young carers and the health service.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The party is trying to maximise the exposure their status as Westminster&#8217;s third party gives them \u2013 Sir Ed went on Have I Got News For You recently, for instance, although invites like that can prove awkward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In the next few weeks, don&#8217;t be surprised if he pops up talking about foreign affairs and outflanks the broadly pro-European noises we&#8217;ve heard from Labour by talking about a potential UK future back inside the European Union&#8217;s customs union.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The party also has an optimistic eye on the local elections in May, particularly in counties such as Devon, Surrey, Shropshire and Wiltshire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The challenge for Sir Ed will be converting a much bigger parliamentary party into influence in an era of a big majority government and noisy fellow opposition parties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1b5y2ub-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ey0461q0\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-9qawyc-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><span><\/p>\n<div><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey with the Bath Philharmonia Carers' Choir performing their charity single Love is Enough, outside Number 10\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mgx9ld.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/ef3a\/live\/c1b008c0-be38-11ef-a2ca-e99d0c9a24e3.jpg 976w\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160.385232744783\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The SNP had a dreadful 2024: nearly nuked in the general election by the rampant return of Labour in Scotland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But speaking to senior figures as the year drew to a close, their mood was less bleak than it might have been.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The row over so-called Waspi women and Labour maintaining the two child benefit cap are just two examples where the SNP hope to point to clear differences between them and Labour, in the countdown to elections to the Scottish Parliament in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline1\"><\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Green MPs around Westminster wear plenty of smiles as we head into 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">For a start we now say Greens plural when talking about them &#8211; for the first time there is more than one of them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They have seen their party membership swell to around 60,000 and they are hoping too to swell their presence on councils in those English local elections in May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Senior figures point out that they are currently part of the administration in over 10% of councils in England and Wales and finished second behind Labour in 40 seats at the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In some of those places they are miles behind, but in others there is at least the chance that they might be able to capitalise over time on disgruntlement with Labour and lure voters on Labour&#8217;s Left in their direction. Let&#8217;s see.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In Wales, Plaid Cymru are chipper after doubling their seat tally to four at the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They hope to capitalise if disillusionment with Labour solidifies between now and elections to the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, in 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Plaid hopes the expansion of the Senedd &#8211; more seats &#8211; and a new voting system could do them a favour too.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The performance of Plaid and Reform could potentially amount to something of a pincer movement on Labour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And do not forget the parliamentary group known as the Independent Alliance, which includes former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn; and the parties of Northern Ireland, all of whom have their own concerns and campaigns &#8211; and can cause ructions for ministers inside and outside Parliament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Here goes with politics in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">It might not be a general election year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But I reckon it will be lively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"topic-list\" class=\"ssrcss-1qmkvfu-TopicListWrapper etw6iwl1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-113c0cq-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-50vlbt-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 type=\"normal\" class=\"ssrcss-ad2rmd-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1ujonwb-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>Conservative Party<\/li>\n<li>Keir Starmer<\/li>\n<li>UK Parliament<\/li>\n<li>Reform UK<\/li>\n<li>Labour Party<\/li>\n<li>Liberal Democrats<\/li>\n<li>SNP (Scottish National Party)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:56:26 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why 2025 promises plenty of political fireworks Reuters Chris Mason Political editor @ChrisMasonBBC 31 December 2024 Politics in 2025 will be dominated by a single controlling thought: do things start feeling any better? The answer to that will drive much else in the political conversation: the fortunes, mood and demeanour of the government, the revival&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/why-2025-promises-plenty-of-political-fireworks\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Why 2025 promises plenty of political fireworks<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-politics","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2958"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2958\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}