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FOR some reason, probably best known to the generations of marketing brains which have honed the festive season into the orgy of consumerism and excess that it now is, the prospect of a new year is supposed to engender fresh hopes for the future. That’s why we make new year resolutions. They are a mark of resolve to improve those things which need fixing in our lives. And then they are broken.

World leaders had a chance to deliver perhaps the biggest hope for 2008 and future generations when they met in Bali last weekend. But however good the intention, the resolve to do something effective on climate change was broken. We have been here before in an unsettling example of déjà vu. In about the same week in December 1997 the United States – in the form of one Al Gore – pressed for terms in the Kyoto agreement that effectively wrecked any chances of a genuine, enforceable, plan for dealing with global emissions.
The same thing happened in Bali. The only difference was that this time the US managed to wreck any plan but at the same time took the credit for saving the – largely fake – deal. In Kyoto John Prescott, then Environment Secretary, said: “This is a truly historic deal which will help curb the problems of climate change. For the first time it commits developed countries to make legally binding cuts in their omissions.” Last week Hilary Benn, the current Environment Secretary, pronounced: “This is an historic breakthrough and a huge step forward. For the first time ever, all the nation’s have agreed to negotiate on a deal to tackle dangerous climate change.”

Global warming has become a political Groundhog Day. And those who put all their faith in the election of a new US President are likely to see their hopes dashed on this, the most important resolution of the new year.

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ON A British domestic front, 2008 is not so much Groundhog Day as Ground Zero. After ten years in power the Government has resolved to act on housing, education and health – in no case in line with the sensible, socially progressive and cohesive policies debated and agreed by the Labour Party, but in every case flawed by an obsession with the profit-driven private sector. Amid the many battles ahead with his own MPs Gordon Brown is facing a tough fight over the provisions for council housing in the legislation now making its way through Parliament. And, in its 60th anniversary year, the Labour Party is looking for some firmer resolution to get the problems of the National Health Service sorted. Above all, on these and other major issues, the party and the public is looking for Mr Brown to find a way of articulating better his own vision for Britain and the purpose of his Government. And, in cases where that vision and purpose has been made clear, as in the aim of ending child poverty, there needs to be, as early as in the 2008 Budget, some indication of how this is going to be paid for.

Mr Brown must resolve not to give way on the Labour link with the unions while fighting off both the restless Blairites in backbench exile and the new year wishes of David Cameron, whose failure to outline any clearly definable policies is being overshadowed by Mr Brown’s lack of grip at the top of his own party. The arrival of the Liberal Democrats’ most right-wing leader for generations may aid and abet Mr Cameron’s aims while reopening the prospect of a Parliament with no overall majority when the next general election is called, probably in 2009.

The outcome will largely depend on how well Mr Brown and his Government deliver in 2008 on what most people surely want to see: a Britain where fair opportunity for all stands as a higher goal than excessive, undeserving wealth for a few. Mr Brown has shown little sign thus far of being able to capture that mood or of acting on it by tackling the iniquities responsible for a growing social imbalance which are creating fears the Tories will seek ruthlessly to exploit. And, of course, the economy is heading for a rocky passage. One way or another it’s going to be a tough year.

So, we wish all our readers and contributors, a very happy festive season holiday. Make the best of it.