2002 in a Nutshell…

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May… The local elections take place in Britain; turnout hits 80% but many voters become violent when they discover that the Euro referendum isn’t ‘til later in the year. Labour makes modest gains from the Conservatives, while the Lib Dems take hundreds of council seats across the country… President Bush’s approval rating slips for the first time since September 11th 2001 as the first American casualties of war are reported. There is outrage that families of soldiers were not told of deaths 6 months earlier… Dick Cheney’s family lead a public outpouring of grief as the former Vice President is named amongst the early casualties…   June… Charles Kennedy, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, admits that his party has no coherent policy at a local level. “I’d try and sort it out,” he says, “but I wouldn’t want to fall out with anyone”. His personal approval rating soars… Pressure grows on President Bush as the results of the only comprehensive Florida recount become public, revealing that Al Gore won the state by 15 votes. The recount was paid for the several leading US newspapers, although the story only breaks in ‘The Guardian’… A leading Afghan politician is forced to resign after allegations surface about him taking a loan from another leading politician. He later states, “I couldn’t believe it, I never told them I was gay… I thought this was supposed to be free country now”. Rumour abounds that the US government tries to censor at least part of his statement….   July… The signs of stress amongst the British Euro ‘Yes’ campaign surface, as Will Hutton is seen dancing in the streets, screaming “But it’ll give you all jobs, end all crime, make Europe stronger than ever and keep Britain economically and militarily safe forever! Are you all effing stupid?!”… The Blair Agreement is signed in the Middle East, and universally heralded by Alastair Campbell as an historic step… A heatwave across the south of the UK leads to a massive increase in ice-cream sales, albeit aided by a promotional campaign featuring both David and Victoria Beckham… Oh, and England fail to win the World Cup, losing to Argentina on penalties in the semi-finals. Coach Sven Goran Erikson comments “I might be a complete genius with a hotline to God’s desk, but even I can’t beat fate like that”….   August… On the eve of the Euro referendum, Tony Blair makes an impassioned appeal to the British people, “Just listen for once, will you?” he says, “It’ll be absolutely bloody marvellous, and you can even keep the Queen’s head on the notes if you’re really that sad. Vote ‘yes’ or I’ll not go on any more foreign trips and I’ll grin on telly at the start of every television programme…”….With a turnout of 40%, the ‘yes’ campaign sneaks home with 51% of the vote… George Bush amazes America by resigning on grounds of ill health and days of parties in the street commence across the globe….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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