Our third 'picks'. Already picked are our Backbenchers and Frontbenchers of 2008.
Jonathan Isaby's pick: "Unable to choose between them, I have picked two moments of the year - both of which I was privileged to witness at first hand. Firstly, there was the victory for Boris Johnson at the London mayoral election at the beginning of May. He reclaimed the capital for the Conservative Party, confounding all those who thought that Ken Livingstone was unbeatable, and I thought it was such a good story that I wrote a book about it! My other moment, just three weeks later, was another historic Conservative election win. Edward Timpson's gaining of Crewe and Nantwich - marked the first Tory gain at a by-election since I was in nappies and showed just how vulnerable Labour had become. As David Cameron declared in Crewe's Market Square the following morning, New Labour died on the streets of Crewe and Nantwich." (Picture credit: News Biscuit).
Tim Montgomerie's pick: "My moment was the one hundred and eighteen billion pound moment. The moment that Alistair Darling told the House of Commons that Britain was up to its neck in Labour's debts (and would be for years to come). George Osborne's response to Mr Darling's PBR announcement was outstanding and was 'remixed' by ToryBear in this terrific YouTube. George's 'Labour didn't fix the roof while the sun was shining' soundbite doesn't capture half of the outrage we should feel at what Labour has done to Britain. In years of economic plenty - years we may not see again for a long, long time - we saw dependency increase dramatically. The public services and welfare went unreformed. Our energy and transport infrastructure went unrenewed. Many years of very tough decisions lie ahead because of the Brown-Blair years of spin and squander. Brown deserves a trouncing at the next election."
What was your moment?
Brown bottling the Election That Wasn't!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | December 30, 2008 at 15:25
Although that of course was Autumn 2007! This year's moment I think has to be Boris!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | December 30, 2008 at 15:26
The Local Elections in May 2008 and the Crewe and Nantwich By-Election. As a close runner up the Glasgow East By-Election, the look on the Labour Faces as the result was declared was worth staying up for!
Posted by: Steve Foley | December 30, 2008 at 15:57
Arguably, Bojo on Top Gear with Jezza. Our two greatest living Englishman but really:
Boris kicking NewtBoy in his crown jewels and witnessing the bewildered disbelief in the bleary eyed faces of Kenny's cohort of immortals stumbling out of City Hall like a daytime cinema audience thrust from the gloom of Kenny's make-believe auditorium into the dazzling light of a spring afternoon.
Posted by: Pulvertaft | December 30, 2008 at 16:20
Has to be Boris.
Posted by: Nicholas J. Rogers | December 30, 2008 at 16:23
Carla Bruni on the steps of Downing Street.
Posted by: Praguetory | December 30, 2008 at 16:37
Good pick Praguetory!
Posted by: Tim Montgomerie | December 30, 2008 at 16:41
OFF TOPIC COMMENT OVERWRITTEN.
OMAR: PLEASE USE THE FRONTPAGE TO SUGGEST NEW TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.
Posted by: Omar Kader | December 30, 2008 at 16:57
Boris most definitely. Most powerful tory in Britain!
Posted by: Ulster Tory | December 30, 2008 at 17:29
Okay moderator, point taken..
Posted by: Omar Kader | December 30, 2008 at 17:37
The Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty beats Boris easily.
Posted by: Unity | December 30, 2008 at 17:46
The Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty beats Boris easily.
Posted by: Unity | December 30, 2008 at 17:48
Boris was great. As I remember, the whole day was great, getting up early to give out leaflets at the Tube, then running round Golders Green like a maniac right up to 10pm, follwed by the victory party and declaration the day after which seemed to go on all day.
It all made for a great two days, as the late result in London allowed us to get maximum coverage for both the brilliant council election results and the really rub their noses in it with Boris.
For a non-British moment of the year, it has to be the election of Barack Obama, which was historic whether you wanted him to win or not.
Posted by: Cleethorpes Rock | December 30, 2008 at 18:17
It has to be the Irish 'NO' vote, that day made us as feel a little irish.
Posted by: Stuart Mark Turner | December 30, 2008 at 18:57
I have go with the Bishop's telling Labour off for being Immoral...it’s been far to long coming but at last the CoE is fighting back.Other highpoints include Britain’s great performance at the Olympic games.
Boris of course, and the Irish no vote, dare I say the end of the housing bubble which I have been predicting for four years, finally I am vindicated. 2008 was a difficult year but with luck it will one of lest under this awful immoral and wrong Labour administration
Posted by: The Bishop Swine | December 30, 2008 at 19:10
The New World Order openly coming into view.
Posted by: Essexboy | December 30, 2008 at 19:49
I have to go with the victory in Crewe and Nantwich.
To be fair, I probably am a little biased as in common with many contributors here I spent a weekend up there helping out (nothing like a little personal involvement to help you appreciate a win!). But there was something more significant about it for a campaigning anorak like me...
The superb organisation there, and an atmosphere which saw professionals, parliamentarians and volunteers really digging in, nobody caring who was who, left a model for all our campaign teams at every level to aspire to.
Posted by: Richard Carey | December 30, 2008 at 21:54
"The New World Order openly coming into view."
A good point if not a good development!
Posted by: The Bishop's Wife | December 30, 2008 at 21:55
@21:55
Definitely not a good development.
Posted by: Essexboy | December 30, 2008 at 23:03
Boris winning the Mayoral election.
The Tories finally remembering to win by elections again.
And those wonderful polls in the summer which saw us at one point 26% ahead of Labour, waited a long time for that.
George Osborne totally outclassing Darling at the PBR.
Posted by: ChrisD | December 31, 2008 at 00:08
Gordon's comments about saving the world. Very telling, perhaps?
Boris becoming Mayor of London.
The good citizens of Manchester saying NO to a congestion charge scheme.
Gordon's the Election "that never was" moment.
The Irish NO vote on the Lisbon Treaty!
Posted by: Julian L Hawksworth | December 31, 2008 at 09:30
The Irish NO vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
Boris becoming Mayor of London!
Gordon Brown's remarks about saving the world. Very telling, perhaps?
The good citizens of Manchester saying NO to a congestion charge scheme.
Gordon Brown's the election "that never was" moment.
Posted by: Julian L Hawksworth | December 31, 2008 at 09:33
The Irish NO vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
Boris becoming Mayor of London!
Gordon Brown's remarks about saving the world. Very telling, perhaps?
The good citizens of Manchester saying NO to a congestion charge scheme!
Gordon Brown's the election "that never was" moment.
Posted by: Julian L Hawksworth | December 31, 2008 at 09:39