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Medway Messenger Party People columnists predict what's ahead in 2017

What a year it has been, politically. But what does 2017 have in store? We asked our Party People columnists to gaze into their crystal balls, read the tea leaves or just take a wild punt at what may happen.

Alan Jarrett, Conservative leader of Medway Council

Cllr Alan Jarrett, leader of Medway Council
Cllr Alan Jarrett, leader of Medway Council

Work will commence on the refurbishment and enhancement of Rochester Airport, and flying will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Battle of Medway will commemorate the Dutch attack on the Fleet. We are calling it Medway In Flames, but Medway will not literally be in flames!

The Boundary Commission will move Lordswood and Capstone Ward into Gillingham & Rainham constituency

The Conservative Group will increase its majority still further, as an opportunity will occur.

There will not be an early General Election as a result of Brexit

Alan Jeacock, Medway Lib Dems

Medway’s Local Plan is out for consultation, although there won’t be all that much consultation as such, for no doubt the Council will go along the lines it has already decided upon.

Article 50 and all the anticipated fallout will go ahead and then the political dirt will really begin

With the Waste Management contract expiring next year when even more cost cutting will come into play, we may well lose out on weekly refuse collections.

Article 50 and all the anticipated fallout will go ahead and then the political dirt will really begin to hit the fan and yawning divisions will begin to appear within the Tory ranks at Westminster. Many of the negatives that were forecast but have yet to transpire will begin to rear their heads and hit us quite significantly.

With national elections due next year within Europe, there will be much fear and uncertainty and with the Trump administration taking up post in the USA, Russia under Putin will feel sufficiently confident and begin to flex its’ muscles even moreso. Europe and its’ increasingly fragile cohesion will be a topic of high urgency, regardless of Brexit.

In the UK there will be an increase in industrial unrest but the government will be so focused on Brexit, it will either choose not to or will be unable to do anything about it.

There will be wage rise demands, especially among those whose wages have been frozen for the last six years or so.

The housing crisis will worsen as indeed will the crisis within the NHS and Social Care. We will lurch from one national and international crisis to another, and I am a “glass half-full” individual.

Vince Maple, Labour leader, Medway Council

Medway Labour leader Vince Maple
Medway Labour leader Vince Maple

1 – There will not be a general election in 2017

2 – Article 50 will be triggered (but only after a vote in Parliament!)

3 – Sadly we will see money coming to Medway Council cut further

4 – Strand Lido will have the highest annual attendance

5 - Arsenal will win the Premiership

Tracey Crouch, Chatham & Aylesford MP

Loneliness Minister: Tracey Crouch
Loneliness Minister: Tracey Crouch

I predict that 2017 will not have as many seismic political events as 2016! The rest is unpredictable…

Steve Dawe, Medway Green Party

The decision to leave the EU will dominate UK political life for the immediate future. I hope that negotiating team remember that the leave campaign was won by only a narrow margin, and that nearly half of those who voted actually wanted to stay. I hope that the Great Repeal Bill, which will transfer existing EU law into domestic law, will be used by our government as a foundation on which to build even greater protection for nature and the environment.

The pressure for electoral reform will continue to grow. It would be great if progress could be made in 2017 towards the introduction of a system of truly proportional representation.

I hope to see the government take real action to address climate change. Reinstating support for solar energy and other renewables would be a start

Gillingham FC will finally gain promotion to the Championship and Medway punk folk legends the Singing Loins will conquer the world of music...

Rehman Chishti, Gillingham & Rainham MP

Rehman Chishti MP
Rehman Chishti MP

Medway Hospital will come out of special measures. This is thanks to the brilliant leadership at the hospital and the great work of the staff who I pay tribute to for their efforts. And in terms of football, if the Gills play their best and avoid injuries I believe that it is highly likely they will make it to the playoffs.

The vote for leaving the EU in June will be honoured and Article 50 will be triggered because this government under Theresa May’s leadership is one that doesn’t dither, it delivers. Whichever side of the debate you were on, I believe that in 2017 we will continue to come together and support getting the best deal for our country.

Angela Merkel will win in Germany and François Fillon will be the next president of France, but it could be close.

Prince Harry will get engaged to Meghan Markle which will give us all another Royal Wedding to look forward to.

Roy Freshwater, Ukip leader, Medway Council

Medway Ukip leader Cllr Roy Freshwater
Medway Ukip leader Cllr Roy Freshwater

We do not wish to be shackled to Europe, we just want to be friends and trade with Europe in 2017.It is time to just walk away and stop paying the EU so we can give more money to our health services as well as our farmers and Medway Council so it can resume being a major affordable house builder. 2017 is not good news on the housing front.

There will be lots more talk and no action by Kelly Tolhurst MP and Alan Jarrett

We will have another 300,000 people from Europe and elsewhere coming to live and work in Britain. These people, as the millions before, will pay billions in extra tax but will continue to be squashed into our communities as the government refuses to give funds to councils to build additional affordable homes, doctors surgeries or provide more hospital beds. Where does all the extra tax money go? There will be lots more talk and no action by Kelly Tolhurst MP and Alan Jarrett, the council Leader despite substantial increases in Council Tax, 20,000 on Housing Waiting List, 250 homeless people and 7,000 approved but unbuilt Medway homes.

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