:00:09. > :00:11.Now on BBC News: There was the vote to leave
:00:12. > :00:13.the European Union, the resignation of one Prime Minister,
:00:14. > :00:15.and the arrival of another - Adam Fleming looks back
:00:16. > :00:18.on a tumultuous year in British politics in Review 2016:
:00:19. > :00:51.Ever feel you need to get away from it all?
:00:52. > :00:55.Especially when ten years worth of politics has been squeezed
:00:56. > :00:58.I believe that this Thursday can be our country's
:00:59. > :01:08.me to try and be the captain that steers our country to its next
:01:09. > :01:11.Tomorrow is going to be a very historic day, I believe that.
:01:12. > :01:14.I think it will be Brexit plus plus plus,
:01:15. > :01:33.My picture is very simple, I'm Theresa May and
:01:34. > :01:46.I'm Adam Fleming, come with me to a secluded log
:01:47. > :01:48.cabin, there no Wi-Fi, no phone reception,
:01:49. > :01:50.just you, me and a lot of
:01:51. > :01:53.It was the issue that split the nation.
:01:54. > :02:00.In the first part of the year, David Cameron embarked on the
:02:01. > :02:01.first half of his Europe strategy renegotiating our
:02:02. > :02:03.membership of the EU with his
:02:04. > :02:07.It meant lots of these, known in the trade as the
:02:08. > :02:09.If it was Thursday, it must be Hungary.
:02:10. > :02:11.Is that the Prime Minister of Slovenia or
:02:12. > :02:16.It all came to a head at a tense summit in Brussels in
:02:17. > :02:20.I will be battling for Britain if we can get a good deal I
:02:21. > :02:24.will take that deal but I will not take a deal that doesn't meet what
:02:25. > :02:33.Cameron agreement with the Euro bosses limited benefits for
:02:34. > :02:36.migrants from the EU and exempted Britain from the idea of ever closer
:02:37. > :02:43.I will go to Parliament and proposethe British
:02:44. > :02:48.Through an in-out referendum on Thursday the 23rd of
:02:49. > :02:52.Time for the Cabinet to choose sides.
:02:53. > :03:08.Six frontbenchers joined the official out campaign, called
:03:09. > :03:10.Among them, David Cameron's political pal Michael
:03:11. > :03:17.The world waited to see which way this other beast would jump.
:03:18. > :03:20.After a weekend of agonising, Boris Johnson left for leave.
:03:21. > :03:23.The last thing I wanted was to go against
:03:24. > :03:27.David Cameron or the Government, but after a great
:03:28. > :03:34.don't think there's anything else I can do.
:03:35. > :03:37.If that's really what you thought all along, why have you kept
:03:38. > :03:39.your party waiting for such a long time?
:03:40. > :03:47.Because truth is that it has been agonisingly difficult.
:03:48. > :03:50.The other side geared up, launching Britain Stronger In Europe, led by
:03:51. > :03:52.Sir Stewart Rose, the former boss of M
:03:53. > :04:05.In a bad-tempered row in Labour about how the party had of
:04:06. > :04:06.-- handled accusations of anti-Semitism.
:04:07. > :04:09.In the US, Donald Trump was about to become the
:04:10. > :04:18.On our side of the Atlantic, MPs criticised
:04:19. > :04:20.his plan to ban Muslims entering the US.
:04:21. > :04:26.His comments regarding Muslims are wrong.
:04:27. > :04:28.His policy to close borders if elected as president,
:04:29. > :04:32.And if he met one or two of my constituents in one of the
:04:33. > :04:35.many excellent pubs in my constituency, then they may well
:04:36. > :04:38.tell him that he is a wazzock for dealing with this issue in this way.
:04:39. > :04:41.But it was alright because he would never win, which he?
:04:42. > :04:43.And the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain
:04:44. > :04:46.Duncan Smith resigned, some thought it was really about Europe.
:04:47. > :04:50.He said it was because the Government was
:04:51. > :04:54.That unfairness is damaging to the Government, to the
:04:55. > :05:02.party, and it is damaging to the public.
:05:03. > :05:06.Incredibly strong passions have been kindled, now it was time
:05:07. > :05:16.to fire up the referendum campaign for real.
:05:17. > :05:25.The remain campaign relied on potential risks, spelt out
:05:26. > :05:27.in a series of weighty Treasury documents.
:05:28. > :05:29.Britain would be permanently poorer if we left the
:05:30. > :05:33.It was all backed up with assertions from the global great and
:05:34. > :05:35.the good, who claimed Brexit would be bad
:05:36. > :05:36.for Britain's place in the
:05:37. > :05:40.Our focus is in negotiating with a big block of the European
:05:41. > :05:48.And the UK is going to be in the back of the queue.
:05:49. > :05:51.Negotiations on new arrangements with the European Union
:05:52. > :05:54.and other trading partners could, in our view, take years.
:05:55. > :05:57.Which would be bad for your wallet, even when it
:05:58. > :06:02.It is just not as easy to fly across Europe as it is
:06:03. > :06:07.A message spelt out in a Government leaflet
:06:08. > :06:18.Politically the Remain campaign was made up of blue, red, yellow,
:06:19. > :06:21.The Labour's leader, Jeremy Corbyn, tended to stick to
:06:22. > :06:28.I believe we have to vote to remain in order to defend
:06:29. > :06:30.investment, jobs, workers' rights and defend our environment.
:06:31. > :06:34.He left much of his side's campaigning to
:06:35. > :06:40.But Leave that its own large red vehicle, let's call it the
:06:41. > :06:51.CHEERING The UK asparagus will be just as spreading and
:06:52. > :07:03.Two questions, firstly, where are your wellies?
:07:04. > :07:09.His message was summed up in three words.
:07:10. > :07:21.We can take control, if we take back control.
:07:22. > :07:23.He meant control of immigration the points-based system.
:07:24. > :07:26.Those who are the brightest and best with the right skills for our
:07:27. > :07:30.economy would be welcome here and this would be a fairer system.
:07:31. > :07:32.Control over whether Turkey would eventually join the EU.
:07:33. > :07:34.This referendum is going to be our last
:07:35. > :07:38.chance to have a say on that, we are not going to be consulted
:07:39. > :07:40.or asked to vote on whether we think those
:07:41. > :07:44.And control of the money Britain sent to
:07:45. > :07:49.the EU, although that was hotly disputed.
:07:50. > :07:51.I am staggered Boris Johnson is standing here tonight
:07:52. > :07:55.still defending this ?350 million a week figure.
:07:56. > :07:58.It's a scandal that is still emblazoned across the campaign
:07:59. > :08:12.And there wasn't just one leave campaign.
:08:13. > :08:14.Nigel Farage and the Ukip crew ran their own with
:08:15. > :08:16.boats at a tougher tone on immigration.
:08:17. > :08:20.With the EU is making a mess of virtue everything.
:08:21. > :08:23.First we had the Eurozone, then the EU's,
:08:24. > :08:27.asylum policy compounded by Angela Merkel and what we've seen
:08:28. > :08:30.are huge streams of people coming into Europe over the course of the
:08:31. > :08:32.last year, no security checks done on anybody.
:08:33. > :08:35.Or you could sign up for grassroots out, an alliance of Tory
:08:36. > :08:36.backbenchers and a few other characters.
:08:37. > :08:55.As the battle went on, leavers capitalise on feelings that there
:08:56. > :08:56.was something fishy about the entire political establishment.
:08:57. > :08:58.I think this country has had enough of
:08:59. > :09:00.experts with organisations from acronyms.
:09:01. > :09:04.Acronyms saying they know what is best and
:09:05. > :09:11.Old foes became firm allies but the Tories
:09:12. > :09:12.things were getting more and
:09:13. > :09:23.Boris is the life and soul of the party.
:09:24. > :09:26.But he is not the man you want driving you home at
:09:27. > :09:30.Blue on blue as it was known turned into all-out
:09:31. > :09:32.war when George Osborne theorised about a harsher Brexit budget.
:09:33. > :09:36.The sort of tax rises we could see include a 2p rise on the basic rate
:09:37. > :09:42.of income tax from 22%, 3p rise in a higher rate of 43%.
:09:43. > :09:43.It is probably the most irresponsible act by
:09:44. > :09:46.Chancellor I've seen in 24 years the House of Commons.
:09:47. > :09:49.The Labour MP Jo Cox is killed in west Yorkshire
:09:50. > :09:54.The Labour MP and mum of two Jo Cox was murdered in a
:09:55. > :10:00.Her killer idolised the Nazis and would
:10:01. > :10:02.later be sentenced to life in prison.
:10:03. > :10:05.The referendum gave way to reflection.
:10:06. > :10:07.Campaigning resumed a few days later and there was this
:10:08. > :10:17.So as you take this decision, whether to remain on leave, do you
:10:18. > :10:21.think about the hopes and dreams of your children and grandchildren.
:10:22. > :10:23.The big finish, the BBC's great debate
:10:24. > :10:35.That is the enormous audience, we have a massive
:10:36. > :10:38.stage which has lecterns on it, shall we have a debate about the EU?
:10:39. > :10:42.The closing arguments went like this.
:10:43. > :10:45.The economists, the scientists, the business leaders, trade unions,
:10:46. > :10:54.health professionals, they all agree that Britain is better off in.
:10:55. > :10:58.If we Vote Leave and take back control I believe that
:10:59. > :11:05.this Thursday can be our country's Independence Day.
:11:06. > :11:07.On June 23 the UK decided its future.
:11:08. > :11:15.The British people have spoken and the answer is we are
:11:16. > :11:21.For leavers, jubilation that they won almost 52%,
:11:22. > :11:29.For Remainers, who had secured 48%, simply shop.
:11:30. > :11:32.Early in the morning in Downing Street,
:11:33. > :11:36.David Cameron announced it was game over.
:11:37. > :11:40.I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship
:11:41. > :11:43.over the coming weeks and months but I do not
:11:44. > :11:44.think it would be right for
:11:45. > :11:47.me to try and be the captain that steers our country to its next
:11:48. > :12:02.Although I will always remember that look on Sam Cam's
:12:03. > :12:06.Scotland voted to remain at the First Minister hinted at a
:12:07. > :12:09.It is a statement of the obvious that the
:12:10. > :12:12.option of a second referendum must be on the table and it is on the
:12:13. > :12:16.Back at Westminster, the winners took in the gravity of the
:12:17. > :12:21.We are still and always have been an exceptionally outward
:12:22. > :12:23.looking country and we will continue to be so.
:12:24. > :12:25.And will be a good neighbour and a good
:12:26. > :12:31.internationalist but we will have taking back control of our
:12:32. > :12:37.So, can you see where I wanted a bit of peace
:12:38. > :12:39.and quiet in my log cabin in the woods?
:12:40. > :12:50.And the vote to leave only takes us halfway through the year.
:12:51. > :12:53.A heap of books have been written about referendum by journalists,
:12:54. > :12:54.party donors, David Cameron's former spin
:12:55. > :13:00.doctor, but to many people what happened next was more
:13:01. > :13:06.Any message of reassurance for the country?
:13:07. > :13:08.His profile sky-high after of referendum,
:13:09. > :13:10.Johnston looked like he might inherit the crown.
:13:11. > :13:17.My pitch is simple, I'm Theresa May and I think I'm the best
:13:18. > :13:19.person to be Prime Minister of this country.
:13:20. > :13:21.Michael Gove launched an attempt that was ultimately doomed.
:13:22. > :13:23.The problem: He was supposed to be managing
:13:24. > :13:24.Boris Johnson's bid for the
:13:25. > :13:29.Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in
:13:30. > :13:34.Parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me.
:13:35. > :13:37.Yes, his supporters wept on a day that has
:13:38. > :13:42.become synonymous with Tory treachery.
:13:43. > :13:50.Over the course of the last few days I've realised that
:13:51. > :13:52.while Boris does have those special abilities
:13:53. > :13:56.out, what he did not have was the capacity
:13:57. > :13:58.to build and to lead that
:13:59. > :14:00.team and provide leadership this country needs at this critical
:14:01. > :14:12.The energy minister and energetic Leave campaign, Andrea
:14:13. > :14:24.But supporters mounted a march on Parliament then
:14:25. > :14:27.she gave a newspaper interview that was interpreted as her saying she
:14:28. > :14:29.would make a better PM because she had kids
:14:30. > :14:30.and her campaign ground to
:14:31. > :14:34.I have, however, concluded that the interests of our country
:14:35. > :14:38.are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well
:14:39. > :14:41.So Theresa May arrived in Downing Street.
:14:42. > :14:44.If you are just managing, I want to address you directly.
:14:45. > :14:48.I know you're working around the clock, I know
:14:49. > :14:51.you're doing your best, but I know that sometimes life can be a
:14:52. > :14:58.The Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the
:14:59. > :15:12.We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives.
:15:13. > :15:15.She paused plans for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley point over
:15:16. > :15:17.concerns about Chinese involvement, then give it the go-ahead.
:15:18. > :15:21.She approved a third runway at Heathrow
:15:22. > :15:23.with a vote in parliament due in a year.
:15:24. > :15:26.She plans to lead schools expand in England, and who said she didn't
:15:27. > :15:29.What message of reassurance does the Prime Minister
:15:30. > :15:33.have for fat middle-aged white men who may feel that we have been left
:15:34. > :15:43.That is very interesting point, perhaps my honourable friend
:15:44. > :15:45.would like to come and see me sometime.
:15:46. > :15:48.The job of Chancellor went to Philip Hammond,
:15:49. > :16:00.his nicknames include spreadsheet and box office.
:16:01. > :16:06.He ditched a target to balance the nation's books by 2020
:16:07. > :16:08.and Amber Rudd was named Home Secretary, she faced
:16:09. > :16:16.And we were introduced to the three Brexiteers, the International Trade
:16:17. > :16:21.Secretary William Fox-Pitt, rice secretary David Davis and old joke,
:16:22. > :16:29.rebooted as Foreign Secretary. Spreading charm. And keeping
:16:30. > :16:35.comedians and work. Foreign Secretary from the subject of
:16:36. > :16:40.Europe, is Brexit living up to all of your hopes and expectations for
:16:41. > :16:45.Britain so far? Of course, Brexit has already been a wonderful
:16:46. > :16:49.journey. Boris Johnson, what do you say? I would say, we never really
:16:50. > :16:56.expected to win I think behind Brexit a bit of a laugh does blush
:16:57. > :17:00.the numbers all over bus. Islam is the Tories other leading lady with
:17:01. > :17:06.Davidson was having a blast. -- in Scotland. The Conservatives steamed
:17:07. > :17:08.in second in a letter to the Scottish Parliament, forcing Labour
:17:09. > :17:17.into third place north of the border.
:17:18. > :17:24.Labour found itself with a bit of a puzzle, its leader Jeremy Corbyn was
:17:25. > :17:28.immensely popular with party members, not so much with his
:17:29. > :17:31.members of Parliament are some of whom described his performance in
:17:32. > :17:38.the referendum campaign is pretty lacklustre. Morning. Early one
:17:39. > :17:41.morning the Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn was sacked, much of the
:17:42. > :17:45.rest of the Shadow Cabinet packed their bags, including Angela Eagle.
:17:46. > :17:53.You found this personally very difficult. Yes. I feel I have served
:17:54. > :17:58.in the best way I can and today I had to go. She launched a leadership
:17:59. > :18:03.challenge but dropped out when the Welsh Labour MP on Smith got more
:18:04. > :18:07.support. Can we get through please? At a fractious party meets and there
:18:08. > :18:11.was a row about whether Jeremy Corbyn could automatically stand in
:18:12. > :18:15.the contest. Yes, he could and there was a court case over which members
:18:16. > :18:20.and supporters could actually vote. No, not all of them. Owen Smith
:18:21. > :18:24.presented himself as a more competent Corbyn. I think the party
:18:25. > :18:29.that I love and the party that has been such an engine for social
:18:30. > :18:34.change and an engine for justice in this country is in jeopardy of not
:18:35. > :18:37.being able to do that, in danger of not being able to form a future
:18:38. > :18:43.Labour Government and change people's lives for the better. Well
:18:44. > :18:46.he crisscrossed the country, often by train, getting into a furious row
:18:47. > :18:51.with virgin about whether he could get a seat. Didn't stop him winning
:18:52. > :18:56.the election as leader and with a bigger share of the vote than
:18:57. > :19:01.before. We are proud as a party that we are not afraid to discuss openly,
:19:02. > :19:07.to debate and disagree, that is essential for a party that wants to
:19:08. > :19:15.change people's lives for the better, that is not prepared to
:19:16. > :19:19.accept things as they are. It is also an essential part of what has
:19:20. > :19:24.drawn over half a million people into membership of what is now the
:19:25. > :19:30.largest political party anywhere in Western Europe. Coggan cosmic Labour
:19:31. > :19:34.Party had victories elsewhere, like the mayoral election in Bristol.
:19:35. > :19:42.Sadiq Khan was elected Mayor of London. It was also the first that
:19:43. > :19:47.everyone is proud of her stride and the of immigrants. The former
:19:48. > :19:52.terrorist Shadoff -- Shadow Chancellor and bolted surprisingly
:19:53. > :19:55.well on strictly. He's jumping up and down. Jurors had time for fun
:19:56. > :20:00.catching some Pokemon with me in a park. The party ended the year where
:20:01. > :20:07.it started with Jeremy Corbyn at its centre. A previously belligerent,
:20:08. > :20:11.Tony Blair, came under scrutiny with the publication of the Chilcott
:20:12. > :20:17.enquiry's report into the Iraq war. It was 2.3 million words long. The
:20:18. > :20:23.decision to go to war in Iraq and to remove Saddam Hussein from power in
:20:24. > :20:30.a Cornish and over 40 countries led by the USA as much in a coalition of
:20:31. > :20:35.over. Was the hardest, most momentous and agonising decision I
:20:36. > :20:40.took in my ten years as Prime Minister. Now, Ukip, where to start?
:20:41. > :20:43.After basically causing the referendum and then winning it,
:20:44. > :20:47.Nigel Farage resigned as you can leader. During the referendum
:20:48. > :20:53.campaign I said that I want my country back. What I'm saying today
:20:54. > :20:59.is I want my life back. And it begins right now, thank you. Diane
:21:00. > :21:05.James exited him but didn't much like the look of it and quit after
:21:06. > :21:08.18 days. -- succeeded him. Steven Woolfe was hospitalised following an
:21:09. > :21:11.alleged laptop with a fellow in the B after he left hospital he left
:21:12. > :21:18.Ukip. I will be withdrawing my application to become leader of Ukip
:21:19. > :21:21.and I'm actually withdrawing myself from Ukip. You are resigning from
:21:22. > :21:27.the party. Yes, with immediate effect. The next leadership contest
:21:28. > :21:31.was won by Paul Nuttall. There are open goal is in British politics
:21:32. > :21:38.today. But Ukip has to be on the pitch to kick the ball into the back
:21:39. > :21:43.of the empty net and that "Is no more apparent than when it comes to
:21:44. > :21:49.the Labour Party. The welcomer Farage was making client -- friends
:21:50. > :21:52.and with the Beagle in the USA. I've just received a call from Secretary
:21:53. > :22:00.Clinton. CHEERING
:22:01. > :22:08.She congratulated us, it is about us, on our victory and I
:22:09. > :22:11.congratulated her and her family. The Nigel visited the Donald in
:22:12. > :22:16.Trump Tower shortly after his victory. Mr Trump renew here today?
:22:17. > :22:26.No, we're just tourists. Prompting this tweet.
:22:27. > :22:34.No thanks, said the British Government. Hang on, we haven't
:22:35. > :22:43.mentioned Brexit for about four minutes. Brexit means Brexit. And we
:22:44. > :22:46.are going to make a success of it. As the Tory party conference in
:22:47. > :22:51.October, the Prime Minister explained a bit more about what that
:22:52. > :22:57.meant, for example, the great repeal bill. Pay attention. We will convert
:22:58. > :23:02.the body of existing EU law into British law. When the great repeal
:23:03. > :23:05.Bill is given Royal Assent, Parliament will be free, subject to
:23:06. > :23:09.international agreements and treaties with other countries, and
:23:10. > :23:15.the EU on matters such as trade. To amend the repeal and improve any law
:23:16. > :23:19.it chooses. She also said she would trigger the British and process with
:23:20. > :23:26.other leaders, the so-called Article 50 -- negotiation process. By the
:23:27. > :23:29.end of March. But Jean Miller had other ideas, she won a gate at the
:23:30. > :23:34.High Court only Parliament could start it. The Government challenge
:23:35. > :23:42.that ruling at the Supreme Court, extinct constitution we. We have a
:23:43. > :23:56.set of files called the CAA. An electronic bundle. 1697. Bundle
:23:57. > :24:01.three tab five, think that is the... Judges will give their verdict in a
:24:02. > :24:04.few weeks. Meanwhile, Brexit secretary David Davis had to explain
:24:05. > :24:10.and he hadn't really described his kind but in the European Parliament
:24:11. > :24:14.as Satan. I was being tempted by the chairman of the select committee to
:24:15. > :24:19.criticise you, so I said get it behind you son. He was the Satan.
:24:20. > :24:23.That clarifies it all. He is examining the pros and cons of
:24:24. > :24:27.Brexit on 50 different sectors of the economy from cakes to cars, it
:24:28. > :24:31.is certainly doing terrible things to the English language. It leaves
:24:32. > :24:42.us towards a smart and smooth Brexit as I like to call it a smexit. Mark
:24:43. > :24:47.my words, we will make breakfast, Brexit a success. And was there at
:24:48. > :24:54.Brexit effect? Zac Goldsmith triggered by election over Heathrow,
:24:55. > :24:58.the Lib Dems nabbed it a pro-EU campaign. It is a good morning, the
:24:59. > :25:03.start of many more. Yes, the Lib Dems, Members End? Just now to
:25:04. > :25:06.resume me is listening to the Ukip wing controlling because everybody,
:25:07. > :25:10.now maybe she will listen to some panic stricken Tory MPs with Lib
:25:11. > :25:13.Dems are breathing down their necks and Ellis isn't it time you listen
:25:14. > :25:20.to the electorate may or may not want Brexit but they certainly don't
:25:21. > :25:25.want a hard Brexit will stop --. Farewell 2016, hello 2017. Donald
:25:26. > :25:28.Trump will be inaugurated as president of the United States,
:25:29. > :25:32.there will be elections in France and Germany and we will have
:25:33. > :25:35.elections for me is in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham but British
:25:36. > :25:43.politics will be overwhelmingly dominated by the negotiations for
:25:44. > :25:54.our exit from the EU. Hang on, maybe I should head back in their? Can't
:25:55. > :26:11.miss that! -- in there? No, I can't miss all of that!
:26:12. > :26:13.Good evening, our second named storm of the year, of