Grand Slam a rare bright spot as the noughties come to a dismal end

WELL now, who went up in your estimation this year? And who went down?

In a year that had almost nothing but bad news, what stood out for you? I really struggled to find highlights of the year this year.

I was tempted to be cynical because there was one master stroke in 2009. Spindoctors all over the world will have marvelled at the budget we’ve just been through. Not because it was fair or effective, but because the ground was so astonishingly well laid for it.