The bouquets...

By any measure, 2016 was an extraordinary year in politics, dominated by the Brexit vote which caused convulsions across all parties. Political editor Paul Francis reflects on the highlights and lowlights, the heroes and villains – and hands out a few awa

The “I Told You So” Award

Loved and loathed in equal measure, Nigel Farage ends the year as the politician who still wields more influence and generates more column inches than any other.

Delivering Brexit is a triumphant note on which to depart the political stage but does anyone really believe he wants to slip off quietly?

Not now he is besties with “The Donald”. The Usain Bolt Award

Theresa May hardly had to break sweat as she comfortably secured the Conservative leadership race, cruising effortlessly ahead of her opponents in an imperious manner to break the tape first.

Mind you, her rivals didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory in a campaign that really had only one winner – especially after Boris Johnson blindsided everyone by pulling out of the race before it began. The “Better Late Than Never” Award

After much Gallic shrugging of shoulders implying there was nothing to be done, the French authorities finally decided to close the Calais jungle camp.

It came amid considerable political brinkmanship from would-be presidential candidates, who said they would move border controls back to the UK.

And the camp would end up being relocated in Dover. Or Folkestone. The “Dad Dancing” Award

Step – or samba – forward the former Labour chancellor Ed Balls, who proved an unlikely people’s favourite among Strictly Come Dancing fans for a series of showstopping performances that made him the most successful former politician on the show since Ann Widdecombe. The Eternal Optimist Award

Labour hasn’t had much to celebrate in 2016 which meant its leader Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t had much to lift his