WE ARE on the cusp of 2020 and it is fair to say the past 12 months have simply flown by.

It has been a tumultuous year in more ways than one with one subject, politics, dominating the news agenda.

One hopes we can now look forward to a period of stability with the Conservatives having secured a whopping majority in December 12’s General Election.

Regardless of which of the two main parties is in power, the most important aspect is to have strong government with a significant majority.

That is certainly the case now with Boris Johnson in Number 10 Downing Street and a final resolution to Brexit undoubtedly top of his agenda.

Whether you agree with Britain leaving the European Union or not, one thing was patently clear, the impasse simply could not be allowed to carry on.

How our withdrawal will pan out in the long term remains to be seen, but there is now a clear path ahead.

It is also patently obvious that there has to be a significant period of reflection for the Labour Party, especially with leader Jeremy Corbyn having confirmed he will be stepping down once a successor has been chosen.

The General Election was an absolute disaster for Labour. Even the most fervent supporters must accept that after the collapse of the so-called “red wall” as the Tories ran riots in the party’s former heartlands.

Corbyn is an honourable man but he knew in the aftermath that the time was right to step aside and let someone else pick up the pieces of a shattered dream which became a real nightmare.

The election also completely derailed the Lib Dems’ aspirations to broaden their appeal.

The party’s leader, Jo Swinson, lost her Scottish seat, much to the glee of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon who was captured fist pumping on live television.

Her delight was certainly in marked contrast to the downcast Ms Swinson who will surely forever regret her boast to her supporters that she was “ready to be your next Prime Minister.”

Like Labour, the Lib Dems are also looking for a new leader but clearly whoever that may be will have to lower expectations. The party faces a long route back if it is to re-establish itself as a viable alternative to either the Tories or Labour.

With Johnson having stolen Nigel Farage’s thunder it is difficult to see where the Brexit Party can go next.

Farage is undoubtedly a charismatic politician who connects powerfully with certain elements of the electorate, as was conclusively proven with the party’s stunning success in the European elections.

However, the self-styled “man of the people”, invariably pictured with a fag in one hand and a pint in the other, really has nowhere to go.

Perhaps he will be handed a Knighthood by Johnson after standing aside candidates in Tory held seats, in so doing helping to cement the Conservatives’ huge majority.

For now he is still an MEP but clearly that will not be for much longer as Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union draws ever closer.

According to sources, Farage has no intention of taking a seat in the House of Lords and in essence he has no more battles to fight on the political stage.

The Leave vote won in 2016 which was his main objective. Now Brexit will be delivered so one imagines he will now take a back seat, especially having chosen not to make another attempt to become an MP.

The Greens also failed to make an impact nationally despite having a charismatic and high-profile MP in Brighton’s very own Caroline Lucas.

Then again, Brighton is almost like a mini republic within Sussex with the city’s other two seats being represented by Labour, with both Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Peter Kyle once again being re-elected with significant majorities.

The rest of Sussex, however, remained true blue and even gained success in Eastbourne, which the party took from the Lib Dems.

Before we know it, the Christmas and New Year celebrations will be firmly behind us and frivolity will be replaced with stark reality.

Times are still tough for many. It is a real tragedy to see so many rough sleepers on the city’s streets and there are also those who are barely able to keep a roof over their heads as rents continue to soar.

To have people relying on food banks in the 21st century is a national disgrace.

It is the time of peace and goodwill but hopefully that will not only prevail over the festive season. Happy New Year.