Here’s to pressing play.

I wanted to write something profound, some insight over the year we’ve had and the year we have to look forward to, but in truth I don't really feel up to it. Why? Because this year doesn’t really seem like it existed at all – in reality is that much different to usual. We move so quickly that days merge together.

So, in some ways, I’m grateful for this year for altering my perspective and allowing me to breathe. Despite this though, I am so tired, as I’m sure you are too.

Most of my adult life has been spent trying to move things forward. That’s had to be put on hold this year. Instead, we’ve reacted to a changing world as best we can, often going from 0-100 and back again in a week. Tasks that normally would be low priority are suddenly urgent, and endless meetings built on the efficiency of Zoom have in some cases become more tiresome than those held in the flesh.

In light of the challenges, we’ve adapted, collaborated and moved to be better.

And we’ve looked to the world, adjusted our own place in it and started to pull up the drawbridge. Whilst our scientists have led the way in finding a vaccine, our politicians have been blithering and indecisive. Whilst activists on the ground have come together to support all in their communities, Downing Street has continued to put people’s lives at risk, all the while hastily forcing through the Brexit negotiations leaving the ordinary Brit worse off.

I am worried for the future and what 2021 holds. In the US, the optimism of the Bidden presidency will ride through, but in Britain we have the uncertainty and fallacy of ‘independence’. Our elections in May will be difficult given the current teetering on the edge, and we must find some hope in order to enact the cliché of bringing the country together.

After entering the world of political campaigning over seven years ago, whilst the referendum on leaving the EU was just a twinkle in Cameron’s eye, it feels as if a chapter is coming to a close, and a new Britain will emerge.

It is, as always, down to each individual to help craft this wonderful country into a vision they’d like to see it become. And as per normal, especially now that we’re not distracted by Brexit (that may read as if I’m pro-leave, though you should be under no doubt how much I strongly wanted to remain), I hope we can focus our resources on tackling the biggest issues of our age: the climate emergency; the inequality in society; the housing crisis.

I wonder, as we close this year, how much we could have achieved in the four years post-referendum, if instead of talking about the promise of taking back control, we’d instead committed to a future that was brighter for not only Britain, but the world. Instead, the UK has been on pause in many regards, so here’s to pressing play.