Why we must cheer on those that try to do the best job possible - David Blunkett
If you will forgive a rather robust expression – it has been a bugger of a year! Not for me in the most personal sense, but rather for friends experiencing serious illness and upset. But in other ways, I share the trials and tribulations with tens of thousands, and perhaps, also millions of people.
The ‘tens of thousands’ are, of course, Sheffield Wednesday supporters.
After complete turmoil, the club was placed into administration, and, as I write, supporters are holding their breath as to who will be the new owner.
As far as the millions are concerned, I am talking about that other passion of mine. Namely, politics.
This time last year, the incoming Labour government had had a pretty rocky start after winning an unexpectedly large majority.
A celebrity personality had not yet shot to prominence in the opinion polls, and the local elections of 2025 seemed a far-off event.
But today, Nigel Farage is basking not only in a donation of £9m from someone ensconced in Thailand, but has seen some significant victories in local government, and opinion poll ratings to genuinely worry even the most hard-bitten politician.
Reform won 677 seats at the local elections in May, earlier this year.
Donald Trump, who took office formally in January, has developed, to an art-form, a little used constitutional anomaly known as ‘Executive Orders’, signing these by the score and bypassing the two Houses of Congress.
His antics on the world stage and his avowed endeavour to get the Nobel Peace Prize, has turned out to be at the cost of the people of Ukraine. Bizarrely, however, he has been awarded the newly invented FIFA ‘Peace Prize’, which recognises individuals who have made “exceptional contributions to peace and unity”.
The world of 2025 has been a disturbing backcloth as people endeavour to live their own lives, put food on the table, and yes, have some fun.
So, for 2026, I am praying that we can lift the cloud of gloom and doom and ensure that people really do start to feel better, think more positively and rejoice in the little things of life that get us through the bad times.
However, we live in a relatively safe country. We are still holding together the things that matter.
A decent education system; interest and mortgage rates down; and despite the worst efforts of the BMA, hospital waiting lists have fallen.
If our government, businesses big and small, and we as individuals can get our act together, 2026 could bring back optimism, a sense of direction and, above all, an energy we so desperately need.
I mention individuals, because I have thought a lot, during the last 12 months, about the role that every person plays in the experience of those around them.
The teacher who is fed up with the worst behaving pupils; the police officer who ‘can’t be bothered’ to go the extra mile; the internet service provider employing people who really couldn’t give a damn whether your network has gone down.
These, and many more, are our brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts. They are, in short, the people who live down the road.
Taking real pride in doing a good job, even if it is a boring one; recognising that even the littlest thing can make a difference to someone else’s life, their wellbeing and capacity to get by can really be transformational.
It matters whether people have drive, commitment and a desire to do better, and it turns the old adage of, ‘Someone should do something about this’ into: ‘What am I going to do to ensure that I have helped someone today?’
One thing is absolutely certain. Whilst politics can really make a difference to how others live their lives (which is why I came into the political world in the first place), it is all of us, in the way we treat each other and do our bit, that, in the end, can make such a significant difference.
I am always cheering people on who are cheerful. The train staff on a wet, cold and windy day; the person behind the counter who makes you laugh; or the person on the other end of a call who doesn’t sound as if they wish you would go away.
All of this really does change that moment of the day for the better.
So, if I have to make a New Year’s resolution, (and I am not good at it), it would be that, in 2026, I’ll try and remember my own strictures.
I will aim to have a sunnier personality. I will endeavour to be more focussed and effective in everything I do, and I will try and remember to provide a thank you and a compliment to those who are really doing their job well.
If – and I think the statistics are highly dubious – we are judged to be one of the unhappiest nations in the world, there is only one set of people to blame. That, of course, is us.
So, when people say that youngsters are much more affected by mental health issues and stress than previous generations; or, according to the stats, that they are really, en-mass, unhappy, the question for all of us must be: ‘why?’.
Before turning to a professional for a diagnosis, we need to have examined, just for a moment, what we could do, what help we could offer, that would make their, and our, lives that much better.
Happy Christmas, and may 2026 turn out to be a surprisingly good year for you all.
David Blunkett is a former Labour cabinet minister. He he served as MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough (formerly Sheffield Brightside) from 1987 to 2015.