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Hi all. Now that were now all back to our usual routines again I thought I would offer some predictions for the year ahead. 2009 is certainly going to be an interesting year, there's no dought about that, but what exactly are the things that are going to make it interesting? Well, we are now 5 days into the new year and over those past five days I have been looking at what other people have been predicting, what the newspapers are predicting, what news presenters on the TV have been predicting and what various different websites and blogs have been predicting. Now, your probably wondering why I've done this. Well, I did it so that I could bring together all the different predictions which have been made to make some predictions which (hopefully) could happen! So here they are, the "official" predictions for 2009:1. UK wide opinion polls over the next few months will continue to show a slow and steady rise for Labour which will eventually lead to Gordon Brown calling a snap general election in either May or June. He may try to hold it at the same time as the European elections. Labour will just very narro
wly hold onto power at Westminster, but without a majority which will mean Brown will have to try and go into what will be difficult negotiations with the Lib Dems to form a coalition but it's likely that even with the Lib Dems they may be still just short of a majority which will mean they will have to try and get agreements with the SNP & Plaid Cymru who will have both increased their number of seats (with the SNP possibly doubling their seats).
wly hold onto power at Westminster, but without a majority which will mean Brown will have to try and go into what will be difficult negotiations with the Lib Dems to form a coalition but it's likely that even with the Lib Dems they may be still just short of a majority which will mean they will have to try and get agreements with the SNP & Plaid Cymru who will have both increased their number of seats (with the SNP possibly doubling their seats).2. Although there will be difficulties in getting it through, the SNP will succeed in getting the Local Income Tax being passed in the Scottish Parliament thanks to support from the Libera
l Democrats. There will be relief in the public that the hated council tax is being rid off, however Westminster will try to stop it happening by refusing to give Scotland the council tax benefits back which will cause a huge political row between Holyrood and Westminster.
l Democrats. There will be relief in the public that the hated council tax is being rid off, however Westminster will try to stop it happening by refusing to give Scotland the council tax benefits back which will cause a huge political row between Holyrood and Westminster.3. Sticking with the Scottish Government, the SNP will manage to get its budget through parliament, however their is likely to concessions gained for Labour this time. This success for the SNP will lead to some changes in the cabinet but unlikely for their to be many new faces or big surprises.
4. Going 
over to the US now, Barack Obama will be faced with some very tough decisions as to handle with the state of the economy. It's most likely that the rest of the world, with some countries now on their knees, waiting eagerly to find out what he intends to do. I suspect that the secret service will also have it's job cut out as the try to protect him from assassination attempts (all of which I hope do not succeed)!
over to the US now, Barack Obama will be faced with some very tough decisions as to handle with the state of the economy. It's most likely that the rest of the world, with some countries now on their knees, waiting eagerly to find out what he intends to do. I suspect that the secret service will also have it's job cut out as the try to protect him from assassination attempts (all of which I hope do not succeed)!
5. Coming back, the Tories will begin a big reshuffle of their opposition front bench which will see George Osborne being replaced by Dominic Grieve (previously Shadow Home Secretary). A surprise, I know, but I think that's what's most likely to happen
6. By the next Labour conference, Labour will be at their lowest poll showings for years as they slip below 30% as the true scale of Gordon Browns mishandling of the economy becomes clear and more and more people lose their jobs and realise how much national debt has to be paid off through higher taxes!
6. By the next Labour conference, Labour will be at their lowest poll showings for years as they slip below 30% as the true scale of Gordon Browns mishandling of the economy becomes clear and more and more people lose their jobs and realise how much national debt has to be paid off through higher taxes!
7. Back in Scotland, there will be another big by-election, this time for Holyrood, up in the Highland's, so it will be a Lib Dem seat. The SNP could, despite Glenrothes, expect to do very well in this!8. Homecoming Scotland will be as success but perhaps not quite as big as some would have liked with not as many tourists coming to see Scotland as the economic problems begin to bite
9. Labour will begin rise in the polls again as we begin to approach 2010 but will remain far behind the Conservatives. By this time Nick Clegg will have stepped down as leader of the Liberal Democrats after what has been a difficult year for him and his party. Meanwhile, here in Scotland, 
the SNP will still be leading in the opinion polls and Alex Salmond will have now begun the campaign for the Independence referendum in 2010. Jim Murphy will still be Scottish Secretary but will be told to try his best not to steal the limelight away from Iain Gray.
the SNP will still be leading in the opinion polls and Alex Salmond will have now begun the campaign for the Independence referendum in 2010. Jim Murphy will still be Scottish Secretary but will be told to try his best not to steal the limelight away from Iain Gray.So there we have it! Feel free, of course, to comment and let me know what you think and feel free to add your own predictions for 2009 as well!
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