The Grey Matters column with community reporter Gay Bolton: An eye-opening few months in politics

The hot topic of Brexit looms large this month.

It’s staggering to think that it will be four years in June since the electorate voted in the referendum and high time the matter was resolved once and for all.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be aiming to have the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which covers factors such as money, citizens’ rights, border arrangements and dispute resolution, finally approved this coming week so the United Kingdom leaves the European Union on January 31 with a deal in place.

Who would have thought Dennis Skinner could be deposed by the Conservatives?

What an eye-opening few months it has been in politics.

Who would have thought that the Tories would have turfed out the Beast of Bolsover from a lair which he had comfortably occupied for 49 years?

Whatever your political persuasions, don’t you think that deposed Dennis Skinner deserves an honour for such long service to the community?

He crossed swords with many over the years, myself included, but his desire to do the best for his constituents and his passion for politics was admirable.

Perhaps Dennis should spend his well-earned retirement writing his memoirs – now that would be a book worth getting your hands on!

Reading for pleasure is among the resolutions which I have made for 2020.

My days are typically spent focusing on written reports for print and web and my early mornings catching up on masses of newspapers from the weekend.

This is the year I cut down on watching telly at night and concentrate on a book at bedtime as there are so many great works of fact and fiction demanding to be read.

Every year I vow to spend more time with my long-distance family and friends and every year I break that promise, so a long-overdue apology is winging its way to everyone whom I’ve neglected.

In the hurly-burly of daily existence it’s so easy to lose sight of the people who matter. With the arrival of a new year comes the dawning of a new decade.

Here’s hoping that these 10 years will bring health, happiness and good fortune to you and everyone you cherish.