Cheer up Nick…
Nick Clegg is feeling gloomy about 2012, warning that it will pose “many great challenges” for everyone in Britain. Do you agree with him – or are there reasons to be cheerful?
Perhaps the deputy prime minister didn’t get what he wanted from Father Christmas, or maybe someone else got all the lucky charms in the Christmas pudding.
Whatever the reason, Nick Clegg‘s New Year message to Liberal Democrat activists is somewhat lacking in Christmas good cheer.
The picture is of atoms spinning apart in the dark. Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams
He warned: “There are no easy years when you are in government, and we have had to show real strength in 2011. The next year will be one that poses many great challenges for everyone in Britain, but I know we must continue to do what’s right for our country.”
He listed some achievements he believed the coalition has made – such as giving a million extra children a “fairer start in life” under the pupil premium funding deal, as well as pushing for the world’s first Green Investment Bank. But Mr Clegg’s overall message was of tough times – and he’s not the only one eyeing 2012 with some concern.
Reasons to be cheerful in 2012
– It’s a good year for sport – London hosts the 2012 Olympics and there is Euro 2012 as well
– It’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which means an extra bank holiday
– According to Anatole Kaletsky in The Times (£), the economic situation might not be quite as bad as we thought – globally at least – because of demand in the US and China
– And it turns out the Mayan prophecy that the world is due to end in 2012 might not be true after all
In his Christmas Day sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams did not hold back.
“Bonds have been broken, trust abused and lost. Whether it is an urban rioter, mindlessly burning down a small shop that serves his community, or a speculator turning his back on the question of who bears the ultimate cost for his acquisitive adventures in the virtual reality of today’s financial world, the picture is of atoms spinning apart in the dark.”
But are they right? Henry Mason, head of research at trends company trendwatching.com, is of the “always look on the bright side” school of thought.
He told Channel 4 News: “While we’re not disputing that stuff is gloomy, the economy is not exactly booming, if you look on a global scale there are hundreds of millions of people if not billions for whom 2012 will be significantly better than 2011 was, and for whom 2011 was better than 2010.
“There are always some people doing well, there are always opportunities, there are always new developments.”
I think people are slightly fed up with this kind of bland pretence that everything’s perfect. Henry Mason, trendwatching.com
His company has picked 12 key consumer trends for 2012, including the prediction that companies will become more open in the face of their instant, online audiences. So if they mess up – they will admit it.
“Big business has not covered itself in glory in the last few years. I think people are slightly fed up with this kind of bland pretence that everything’s perfect,” he said.
So perhaps Nick Clegg has got in early on this trend by admitting 2012 is unlikely to be the Liberal Democrat dream year?
“Maybe,” he said. “There is always a chance to turn a negative into a positive – if you are honest, and say it’s not really going to be the best year but we are doing our best. But of course you have to follow through and deliver.”
And if you are still not convinced, perhaps it’s time to trust in the stars. Unfortunately, political astrologer Demian Allan told Channel 4 News they aren’t looking so cheerful either.
“The UK astrology chart indicates strong marked planetary aspects that suggest that the current recession that we as a country are experiencing will continue into the year 2012 and beyond.
“From an astrological long term view, I can only envisage a recovery of the UK’s financial stability in the year 2015 due to a restructure of ‘new’ industries,” he said.
What do you think?
Are you gloomy or cheery? Here’s what fans of Channel 4 News on Facebook and our Twitter followers think…
@Erik Zoha All this doom and gloom scaremongering from Clegg, Cameron, Osborne etc will only lead to more stock market losses, less economic confidence of a recovery, self fulfilling prophecy
@Jonathan Fox Well as a mere citizen I cannot have any influence on the bigger picture so the key to happiness in 2012 is finding solace in the smaller things. If I were to be looking for an upbeat message on the economy I think I’d be a long time waiting
@Johnny Greenway It’s time we started getting positive for a change. I’m personally sick of the doom and gloom message
@Elke A Wallace Don’t let the negatives get to you! Try to enjoy the little positives, keep life simple, stop buying tabloid press, be kind to others, be compassionate about others and yourself, we “little people” have to stick together
@Eleanor Caroline Ross I’m moving to Brazil soon so im cheerful :D I can forget all about cold, wet, skint, angry britain and its problems :D
@dizzycurly the Olympics, Euro 2012, Diamond Jubilee, my husband’s team getting promoted, my team hopefully not getting relegated #hope
@garry_thomas It can’t get any worse in construction so I suppose the only way now is up
@katabaticesque i face having to move my two vulnerable kids from their home next year because of housing benefit cuts so im not too cheery.