0:00:00 > 0:00:00in politics, from Theresa May's snap election that backfired
0:00:01 > 0:00:03so spectacularly, to continuing tussles with the EU over Brexit.
0:00:03 > 0:00:09Ellie Price reviews the year in British politics.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18The headlines this morning, Theresa May's decision to call
0:00:18 > 0:00:19the general election...
0:00:19 > 0:00:21It was with reluctance I decided the country needs...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23The Prime Minister spelt out her strategic goals.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25History has been made.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Article 50 of been triggered.
0:00:26 > 0:00:32Brexit negotiations in a shambles.
0:00:32 > 0:00:352017 was shaped by what happened when a pretty influential person
0:00:35 > 0:00:38went for a nice long walk in the countryside and has a little
0:00:38 > 0:00:44think about things.
0:00:47 > 0:00:54That was, of course, Theresa May, who went on a hike with her husband
0:00:54 > 0:00:58in April and came back thinking it would be a jolly good idea to call
0:00:58 > 0:01:01a general election.
0:01:01 > 0:01:09The decision made on that little stroll defined the year.
0:01:10 > 0:01:18But plenty happened in the months running up to it.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21The 2017 journey started as we all expected with Brexit.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26Are we going to get a detailed plan, Prime Minister?
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Only a few days shy of the EU referendum's six-month anniversary,
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Theresa May made a speech at Lancaster House.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33It became known as the Lancaster House speech.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Setting out a blueprint of her main objectives for Brexit negotiations.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40As a priority we will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement
0:01:40 > 0:01:41with the European Union.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44The days of Britain making vast contributions to the European Union
0:01:44 > 0:01:45every year will end.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54The PM confirmed Britain would come out of the EU single market
0:01:54 > 0:01:57but there would be a transition period from EU membership
0:01:57 > 0:01:58to whatever is agreed after.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01She said parliament will be given a vote on a final deal.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05But it was Parliament getting a say on the start of negotiating that
0:02:05 > 0:02:08deal which was the big news a few days later.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11The government got taken to court for wanting to trigger Article 50.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13The mechanism to leave the EU.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18Without having to ask MPs first.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20By a majority of 8-3, the Supreme Court rules
0:02:20 > 0:02:23that the government cannot trigger Article 50 without an act
0:02:23 > 0:02:34of Parliament authorising it to do so.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36No Prime Minister, no government, can expect to be
0:02:36 > 0:02:37unanswerable or unchallenged.
0:02:37 > 0:02:46Parliament alone is sovereign.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Parliament was given that very vote a few weeks later.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Ayes to the right, 494.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56Nos to the left, 122.
0:02:59 > 0:03:00An historic vote today.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03It got through by a large majority at every turn.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07It has carry out the will of the British people.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10The stage was set, then, and on the 29th of March Article
0:03:10 > 0:03:1750 was triggered.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20This is an historic moment from which there can be
0:03:20 > 0:03:21no turning back.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24All it took was a short letter delivered by hand to Brussels,
0:03:24 > 0:03:25signed by Theresa May.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Though you might not know it from that signature.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29So here it is.
0:03:29 > 0:03:29Six pages.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Thank you and goodbye.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Now it was time for the difficult bit to start.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Negotiating the terms.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42We were all doggedly talking about Brexit,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45but other things happened, too.
0:03:45 > 0:03:52The Conservative Party candidate, 13,748.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54In February the Tories won the Copeland by-election,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57a first such win by a government party over its opposition
0:03:57 > 0:03:58in 35 years.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00In a place that had been Labour since 1935.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03On the same night Labour held onto their Stoke-on-Trent seat.
0:04:03 > 0:04:04You going to resign?
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Seeing off a challenge from Ukip.
0:04:06 > 0:04:14It was a message that Hope triumphs over fear.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Elections, too, for the Northern Ireland assembly.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19Sinn Fein came within one seat of drawing level with the DUP
0:04:19 > 0:04:20after a bitterly divisive campaign.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Just a few weeks later, the death of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness,
0:04:24 > 0:04:29Northern Ireland's former Deputy First Minister.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35Martin McGuinness was a freedom fighter.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Even now, still no sign of a breakthrough so that
0:04:38 > 0:04:42power-sharing can be restored at Stormont.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Saving for a rainy day Chancellor?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48In London Philip Hammond if the first of his budgets this year.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Theresa May was really looking forward to it.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53The Chancellor said it would prepare Britain for Brexit.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55We provide a strong and stable platform for those negotiations.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00Strong and stable, a phrase we would all get bored of.
0:05:00 > 0:05:06On the 22nd of March a terrorist ploughed through pedestrians
0:05:06 > 0:05:08on Westminster Bridge killing four and injuring 50.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11He then stabbed to death a policeman just outside
0:05:11 > 0:05:18the Houses of Parliament.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22He was later shot dead.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25The first three months of the year in Westminster and beyond had
0:05:25 > 0:05:28already provided plenty to fill the airwaves and newspapers.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Then a surprise announcement no one saw coming.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33I've just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet where we agreed
0:05:34 > 0:05:38the government should call a general election.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41To be held on the 8th of June.
0:05:42 > 0:05:54Every vote for the Conservatives will make me stronger
0:05:54 > 0:05:56when I negotiate for Britain with the prime ministers,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58president and chancellors the European Union.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Every vote for the Conservatives will mean we can stick to our plan
0:06:01 > 0:06:04for a stronger Britain, and take the right long-term
0:06:04 > 0:06:05decisions for a more secure future.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07General election.
0:06:07 > 0:06:16You're joking, not another one!
0:06:16 > 0:06:17Go on, go on.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20The path ahead seemed pretty clear forgeries in May and the Tories
0:06:20 > 0:06:22could almost smell victory.
0:06:22 > 0:06:29They thought.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31The local elections saw the Conservatives make big gains
0:06:32 > 0:06:32across the country.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35At the expense of Ukip, whose vote collapsed.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39And Labour.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42We've had very disappointing results in other parts of the country.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Yes, we have to go out there in the next four weeks and get
0:06:46 > 0:06:49the message out.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52There were recriminations, too, among some Labour MPs.
0:06:52 > 0:06:53It's a pretty disastrous picture.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Simply not good enough for a party that has been in opposition
0:06:56 > 0:07:00for seven years, that is heading towards a general election in five
0:07:00 > 0:07:03weeks, to not be picking up seats and not making forward progress.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06So much progress was made on the Labour election manifesto
0:07:06 > 0:07:09that it was finished five days early and promptly leaked to the press.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12When formally lodged it called for the renationalisation of water
0:07:12 > 0:07:14companies and an end to tuition fees.
0:07:14 > 0:07:21This is a programme of hope.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24The Tory campaign by contrast is built on one word.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Fear.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30The Tories unveiled a document that included scrapping free school
0:07:30 > 0:07:32lunches for children in England and a shake-up
0:07:32 > 0:07:42of the social care system.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44With confidence in ourselves and a unity of purpose
0:07:44 > 0:07:54in our country, let us all go forward together.
0:07:54 > 0:07:54APPLAUSE.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Then Theresa May seemed to lose her way.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58The direction and clear.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59In a series of unforced errors.
0:07:59 > 0:08:14There was that you on social care.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15-- U-turn.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18You've just announced a significant change to what was offered
0:08:18 > 0:08:20in your manifesto, saying there will now be the possibility
0:08:20 > 0:08:22of a cap on social care.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25That was not in the plans announced just four days ago.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Our social care system will collapse unless we address this problem.
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Nothing has changed.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34Nothing has changed.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37That she refused to take part in any head-to-head televised debate.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40The Prime Minister is not here tonight, she can't be bothered,
0:08:40 > 0:08:41so why should you?
0:08:41 > 0:08:44In fact, Bake Off is on BBC Two next.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48It wasn't Bake Off, but she did go on TV to talk about the bins.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52It all seemed a bit cringing.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54There is give and take in every marriage isn't there?
0:08:54 > 0:09:03I get to decide when I take the bins out, not if.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06There are boy jobs and girl jobs, you see.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09There was that weird time the Prime Minister was asked
0:09:09 > 0:09:14what was the naughtiest thing she ever done as a child.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17She said it was to run through a field of wheat.
0:09:17 > 0:09:18Come on, Ed, come on, Ed.
0:09:18 > 0:09:33# The hills are alive with the Sound of music #.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn was positively frolicking out
0:09:34 > 0:09:36on the campaign trail.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Greeted like a rock star at his well attended rallies.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41I never was into politics because I never thought politicians
0:09:41 > 0:09:43were, like, normal people.
0:09:43 > 0:09:49Until now.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51You won't say whether you think having gay sex
0:09:51 > 0:09:52is a sin.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Elsewhere the Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a devoted Christian,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58kept being asked the same question.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02I don't believe gay sex is a sin, I take the view as a political
0:10:02 > 0:10:05leader, I job is not to pontificate on theological matters.
0:10:05 > 0:10:11He provided one of the best catchphrases of the campaign.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Smell my spaniel, maybe.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19The SNP seems pretty cool about the challenge ahead.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Winning 56 it will be a huge challenge for Nicola Sturgeon's
0:10:22 > 0:10:25party, Ruth Davidson has predicted we've hit peak that,
0:10:25 > 0:10:26the only way is down.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28This party...
0:10:28 > 0:10:28Hello.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Ukip's manifesto was memorable for its proposed ban on burgers
0:10:31 > 0:10:35in public but to lead a Paul Nuttall had trouble with his own memory.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I think it's absolutely right, what we need to do...
0:10:37 > 0:10:38I'm not Natalie!
0:10:38 > 0:10:40He's done it twice now.
0:10:40 > 0:10:40Have I?
0:10:41 > 0:10:45I'm sorry about that.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Politics was overtaken by tragedy not once, but twice.
0:10:49 > 0:10:5223 people, including the attacker, were killed after a bomb went off
0:10:52 > 0:10:54at a pop concert at the Manchester Arena.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59This was among the worst terrorist incidents we've ever experienced
0:10:59 > 0:11:14in the United Kingdom.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Less than two weeks later and five days before the election,
0:11:17 > 0:11:24a second terror attack, this time on London Bridge.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Eight people killed and the three attackers shot dead by police.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32On both occasions, the campaign was suspended for several days.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35What we're saying is the Conservatives are the largest party.
0:11:35 > 0:11:43Note, they don't have an overall majority at this stage.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48Overall, the Conservatives lost 12 seats, creating a hung parliament.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51They were the biggest party but didn't have a majority.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Surprising even themselves, Labour gained an extra 30 seats.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57The SNP lost 21, including that of their former leader Alex Salmond.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg also lost his seat.
0:11:59 > 0:12:14Theresa May stayed on as PM, but only just.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I'm sorry for all those candidates and hard-working party workers
0:12:17 > 0:12:22who weren't successful.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26With their majority got a vocal number of Tory MPs thought it stank.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29And Theresa May would have to clean up the mess.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30That's what she promised to do.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33But still there was pressure on her to resign, including
0:12:33 > 0:12:37from a former close colleague who, by the way, had got a new job
0:12:37 > 0:12:39as editor of the London Evening Standard.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Theresa May is a dead woman walking, it's how long she will remain
0:12:42 > 0:12:44on death row.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Tim Farron did decide it was time to go, even though the Lib Dems had
0:12:48 > 0:12:51regained an extra eight seats.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53To be a political leader especially of a progressive,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56liberal party, in 2017, and to live as a committed
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible's teaching has felt
0:12:59 > 0:13:04impossible for me.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Watching on was the man who took over, Vince Cable.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Paul Nuttall, who failed to win a seat, also resigned.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13For us, though the tide may be out at the moment,
0:13:13 > 0:13:20at this present moment in time, I am convinced it will return.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Deal or no Deal Mrs Foster?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25To get enough MPs to pass any laws, Theresa May
0:13:25 > 0:13:27the Democratic Unionist Party's ten MPs from Northern Ireland onside.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30This discussion is still going on.
0:13:30 > 0:13:41Norman, what can you tell us?
0:13:41 > 0:13:44You keep looking over your shoulder in case she comes out the door,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46what can you tell us so far?
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Tadhg actually I was looking at a much more interesting fight
0:13:49 > 0:13:52about to erupt between Palmerston and Larry, who is lying flat
0:13:52 > 0:13:55on the street, a serious clash that could be about to unfold,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57I don't know whether I should intervene.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Don't worry, there is no fight, they came to an arrangement,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03as did the DUP and government, 18 days after the election.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Today we've reached an outcome that is good for the United Kingdom.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Then remember the guy being treated like a rock star?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Jeremy Corbyn went to Glastonbury.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Plenty did I just.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16It was only June, the issue of Brexit haven't gone away,
0:14:16 > 0:14:21time for the EU and UK to get stuck in.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24A hugely important decision was taken by the remaining 27
0:14:24 > 0:14:41countries in the EU at the end of April.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51To start with negotiators would only took about three
0:14:52 > 0:14:53subjects, the border between Ireland and the
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Republic of Ireland, the
0:14:55 > 0:14:58right of EU citizens living in Britain and vice versa and how much
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Britain owed the EU, the so-called divorce bill.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Only when sufficient progress was made in those areas
0:15:03 > 0:15:05could talks move on to the nitty-gritty of trade deals.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10We all want a close and strong future
0:15:10 > 0:15:11relationship with the UK.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12There's absolutely no question about it.
0:15:13 > 0:15:20Before discussing the future, we have to sort out our past.
0:15:20 > 0:15:26The very next day, a German newspaper
0:15:26 > 0:15:29published details of a meeting between the EU Commission president
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Jean-Claude Juncker and the PM.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37It alleged the meeting had been
0:15:37 > 0:15:40frosty and Mr Juncker had left ten times more sceptical.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Theresa May dismissed the report as gossip.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45By June, it was time to get on with it.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I'm here in Brussels today, like Michel, to begin
0:15:48 > 0:15:53the next phase of our work to build
0:15:53 > 0:15:57a new deep and special partnership with the European Union.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58That obviously wouldn't be easy.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00TRANSLATION:The UK decided to leave the EU, not
0:16:01 > 0:16:02the other way round, and
0:16:02 > 0:16:03the consequences are substantial.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07We come bearing gifts.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Enter Jeremy Corbyn to mix things up a bit.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13He met the EU chief negotiator to discuss
0:16:13 > 0:16:14Labour's Brexit position, which may
0:16:14 > 0:16:18not have been as obvious as his football allegiance.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19A football shirt..
0:16:19 > 0:16:20Barnier!
0:16:20 > 0:16:27You now play for Arsenal.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29The British government published a series of papers clarifying
0:16:30 > 0:16:34its position on a range of issues.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38But by the end of August the EU seemed to suggest it wasn't enough.
0:16:38 > 0:16:39To be honest, I'm concerned.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Time passes quickly.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43With the clock ticking, Theresa May made another speech,
0:16:43 > 0:16:44this time in Florence.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47She said there should be a transition period
0:16:47 > 0:16:51of about two years after Brexit, and that Britain was prepared to pay
0:16:51 > 0:16:55a financial settlement.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Clearly people, businesses and public services
0:16:57 > 0:17:00should only have to plan for one set of changes in the relationship
0:17:00 > 0:17:02between the UK and EU.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04The UK will honour commitments we've made during
0:17:04 > 0:17:05the period of our membership.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Let us be creative as well as practical in
0:17:08 > 0:17:13designing an ambitious economic partnership that respect the
0:17:13 > 0:17:17freedoms and principles of the EU and the wishes of the British
0:17:17 > 0:17:20people.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22A month later, another dinner, another kiss with
0:17:22 > 0:17:23Jean-Claude Juncker.
0:17:23 > 0:17:29Another German newspaper report.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31This time it said the PM had "begged for help"
0:17:31 > 0:17:33when they met, and she seemed tired
0:17:33 > 0:17:34and politically weak.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35He denied the account.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38She was in good shape, she was not tired, she was fighting.
0:17:39 > 0:17:40As is her duty.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Everything for me was OK.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43She didn't plead with you for help?
0:17:43 > 0:17:44No, no.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Still, by December, no decision on whether sufficient
0:17:46 > 0:17:52progress had been made.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53A deal was so near.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57Theresa May was even in Brussels.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01But the sticking point was the DUP who said they weren't happy
0:18:01 > 0:18:08with proposals for Northern Ireland.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11We will not accept any form of regulatory divergence
0:18:11 > 0:18:12which separates Northern Ireland
0:18:12 > 0:18:14economically or politically from the rest of the UK.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16A dramatic intervention and back to stalemate.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18After more late-night talks, finally, a breakthrough.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23For now at least.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Sufficient progress has now been made on the strict terms
0:18:26 > 0:18:26of the divorce.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29This was a difficult negotiation for the European Union
0:18:29 > 0:18:31as well as for the United Kingdom.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36You can say that again, Jean-Claude.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38That is what this was all about.
0:18:38 > 0:18:44I very much welcome the prospect of moving ahead to the next phase.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Will you be celebrating, Mr Barnier, cracking open the champagne?
0:18:47 > 0:18:49We're still working.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51The chief negotiator wasn't quite jumping for joy.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56Ultimate arbiter, put about in your pipe and smoke it.
0:18:56 > 0:19:02Back home, critics like him
0:19:02 > 0:19:08weren't celebrating either.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Amazing isn't it, British PM has to fly through
0:19:11 > 0:19:12the middle of the night
0:19:12 > 0:19:16to meet some unelected bureaucrats who patted
0:19:16 > 0:19:18her on ahead and said you've met
0:19:18 > 0:19:19all our demands, made
0:19:19 > 0:19:22sufficient progress, we can move onto the next stage, the
0:19:22 > 0:19:23whole thing is a humiliation.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26There is little doubt it did come as some
0:19:26 > 0:19:27relief to the PM.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Even if less than one week later...
0:19:29 > 0:19:32The ayes to the right, 309, nos to the left 305.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35..She was defeated in the Commons when rebel Tory and opposition MPs
0:19:35 > 0:19:37forced the government to give a legal
0:19:37 > 0:19:39guarantee of a vote on the final Brexit deal.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Overall, a year of Brexit negotiations ended with
0:19:42 > 0:19:42agreement.
0:19:42 > 0:19:43At least the first bit.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46The real fun starts making a deal on the future relationship.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Is Theresa May's of a full agreement by March 2019 realistic?
0:19:49 > 0:19:57Still realistic and, of course, dramatically difficult.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02With the election over and Brexit dominating
0:20:02 > 0:20:04the whole of 2017, it was a long slog.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Keeping control of her own party has been an uphill
0:20:07 > 0:20:21struggle for the PM.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22# Oh, Jeremy Corbyn...#
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Not least when you compare it to Jeremy Corbyn's fortunes.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27They may have lost the election but Labour's
0:20:27 > 0:20:29party conference felt more like a victory parade.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31It was like this last year.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33It wasn't like this last year.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Thank you so much for that wonderful welcome and this
0:20:35 > 0:20:37incredible feeling and spirit of unity
0:20:37 > 0:20:39on love and affection we have here.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The run-up to the Tory conference was less than harmonious,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Boris Johnson hit the headlines for an article he wrote outlining his
0:20:47 > 0:20:48own red lines in Brexit negotiations.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51They seemed to go further than that of the Prime
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Minister and what was agreed by the Cabinet.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Once again there were whispers about his leadership
0:20:55 > 0:20:56aspirations.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00A little taste of Italy.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03As there were about this man, Jacob Rees-Mogg, though he told me
0:21:03 > 0:21:06he wants Theresa May to stay on as leader.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09For ever and ever, eternity, even eternity is too short to
0:21:09 > 0:21:09extol her.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12You don't fancy it yourself?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15No, of course not, I want Mrs May to go
0:21:15 > 0:21:16on for ever and ever.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19In the end it was Theresa May's conference speech that
0:21:19 > 0:21:20went on and on.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23It started with a prankster.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25..Prepare for a run on the ground.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Boris, job done, given her the P 45.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Of course it had nothing to do with the Foreign Secretary.
0:21:31 > 0:21:37I was about to talk about somebody I would
0:21:37 > 0:21:40like to give a P45 to, that is Jeremy Corbyn.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44And then came the frog in the throat.
0:21:44 > 0:21:51The deficit is back to precrisis levels...
0:21:51 > 0:21:55..Sounds as if my voice isn't on track.
0:21:55 > 0:22:03COUGH.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06As if it couldn't get any worse, even the scenery started
0:22:06 > 0:22:07falling down.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10The PM put on a brave face and was supported by her
0:22:10 > 0:22:13husband and, in the coming days, after some whisperings about her
0:22:13 > 0:22:16leadership, her Cabinet.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18By the end of October, scandal once again hit
0:22:18 > 0:22:25Westminster, this time about sexual harassment.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Very quickly it became clear it was not party political,
0:22:28 > 0:22:29with various MPs implicated.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33And then a Cabinet Minister.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36In recent days allegations have been made about MPs' conduct.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37Including my own.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Many of these allegations have been false.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45But I realise that in the past I may have fallen below the
0:22:45 > 0:22:48high standards that we require of the Armed Forces
0:22:48 > 0:22:52that I have the honour to represent.
0:22:52 > 0:22:58I have reflected now on my position
0:22:58 > 0:23:00in government and I am therefore resigning as Defence Secretary.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03One week later, jetting back this time
0:23:03 > 0:23:11from an official ministerial trip, Priti Patel, the international
0:23:11 > 0:23:12development secretary, was called into Downing Street
0:23:13 > 0:23:13and also resigned.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16This time over unauthorised meetings she'd had with Israeli officials
0:23:16 > 0:23:17while on holiday.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20In her resignation letter, Ms Patel said her actions
0:23:20 > 0:23:26"fell below the standards of transparency and openness."
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Losing two Cabinet ministers in a week was unlucky, losing a third the
0:23:30 > 0:23:37following month was awkward, but Damian Green, the PM's effect is
0:23:37 > 0:23:44deputy resigned after it was found that he made misleading statements
0:23:44 > 0:23:47over claims of pornography on his office computer.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49It wasn't just troublesome friends at home.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51In January the PM and Donald Trump had
0:23:51 > 0:23:55got on so well when she went to Washington they even held hands.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Mrs May invited the President over for
0:23:57 > 0:24:01a state visit at some stage.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04That didn't go down well with some people back home.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06So when the President retweeted some unsubstantiated posts
0:24:06 > 0:24:08from a British far right group called Britain First,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10it was, at best, a bit awkward.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Theresa May said he was wrong to do it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15He told her, don't focus on me.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20The year didn't end as friendly as it had
0:24:20 > 0:24:22started, but is the President still coming over?
0:24:22 > 0:24:25An invitation for a state visit has been extended and
0:24:25 > 0:24:25has been accepted.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28We have yet to set a date. Thank you.
0:24:28 > 0:24:36Something to look forward to next year.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41So much going on, little sign of things slowing down.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Politics aside, there was one more important moment
0:24:44 > 0:24:45in Westminster this year.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52The silencing of an old friend.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55BONG.
0:24:57 > 0:25:05Big Ben stopped bonging.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10Apart from events like Remembrance Sunday and New Year's
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Eve, the bell will stay silent as repair works go on,
0:25:13 > 0:25:14for four years.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19Even the Prime Minister is a bit upset about it as our other MPs.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22It means something, it really does, these are the chimes of Freedom
0:25:22 > 0:25:24and they have to be respected.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25We've got to keep them bonging.
0:25:25 > 0:25:39It really has been all about timing this year.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42An election and all the fallout, Brexit and the ongoing negotiations,
0:25:42 > 0:25:43scandals at Westminster.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45It's been quite a year.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Next year couldn't possibly be so frantic, could it?