The political faces of 2008
Updated on 10 December 2008
Political editor Gary Gibbon reflects on the year in Westminister and offers some pointers to the Channel 4 News Political Impact Award.
From "Mr Bean" to "Stalin" to some sort of Colossus, bestriding the world's chancelleries - Gordon Brown has been re-cast more often than the Statue of Liberty.
But this was the role, his advisers say, for which he was put on earth.
In the wake of the near collapse of the banking system Gordon Brown was "the man with the plan".
He knew all about recapitalisation, he'd read his Keynes.
He may have been on the bridge when the borrowing was going through the roof but nobody could accuse him of falling asleep as the economy hit the iceberg.
On the bridge with the Prime Minister through the economic storms of 2008 has been another mild-mannered politician, Alistair Darling.
The originator of the "Mr Bean to Stalin" jibe had a good year predicting economic gloom he'd rather not have seen.
Vince Cable manages to convince voters that he is numerate and sane. Despite his mild-mannered style, his opponents know his scorn can hurt.
On the bridge with the Prime Minister through the economic storms of 2008 has been another mild-mannered politician, Alistair Darling.
His critics will say he doesn't stand up to the Prime Minister enough.
His supporters - including senior staff in the Treasury - say he has maintained an heroic calm as the economic storms lashed.
And Alistair Darling has had arguments with Gordon Brown, some of them very intense, and sometimes walked away the winner.
With the recession turning politics into a ride on the white water rapids, no one really knows where their boat is going to end up.
George Osborne - a bit of a mariner himself - has, together with David Cameron, decided to set a new direction.
They have jettisoned the policy of "matching Labour's tax and spend totals" and are now saying Labour's tax and spend policies are "criminal."
They have stayed ahead of Gordon Brown - just - in testing times and frequently made the political weather.
The year has closed with a Westminster tale that provoked distress, hilarity and indifference in roughly equal measure.
You can't deny Peter Mandelson had an impact on the political scene.
The Blairite political canary brought back into government to prove to rebellious Blairites that the air was still breathable in a Brown government.
That silenced a coup attempt focused on David Miliband, surely a candidate for impact, even his high profile receded once the boss had convinced enough colleagues he was still the man for the job.
The year has closed with a Westminster tale that provoked distress, hilarity and indifference in roughly equal measure. Damian Green has won a place in the history books, as has his mole, the soon-to-be former civil servant, Christopher Galley.
Impact? The saga unquestionably had an impact on MPs and columnists, may yet turn a career or two in the Met, but are either of them candidates for biggest political impact in 2008? You decide!
