“37 Words That Capture the Chaos of British Politics in 2024”

As another eventful year draws to a close, let POLITICO transport you back through the highlights with a roundup of 37 buzzwords that dominated conversations among the politically plugged-in. Here’s a look at some of the most notable terms that shaped the year’s discourse:

TWO-TIER JUSTICE: A favorite phrase of comeback icon Nigel Farage and his supporters. The argument? That the British justice system is harsher on white and far-right individuals. However, one high-ranking police official dismissed this claim as “nonsense,” highlighting that it reflects a refusal to engage with the facts. Welcome to the complexities of the 2020s.

ELON: Elon Musk was the center of attention for both Farage, who sought to court his support, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reportedly hoped to silence him on the social media platform X. Musk, ever the provocateur, also weighed in on Britain’s legal system, further fueling debates.

GAMBLEGATE: When faced with a looming electoral defeat, why not make one last move? That seemed to be the sentiment behind a scandal involving a Tory politician allegedly placing a hefty £500 bet as they exited the stage.

STORM SHADOW: Discussions about the U.K.’s role in Ukraine heated up with debates surrounding the deployment of Storm Shadow missiles. The Bond-villain-esque name didn’t hurt when it came to capturing headlines and letting political reporters briefly live out their cinematic dreams.

SUPERMAJORITY: Rishi Sunak revived this term—known in everyday language as a simple “working majority”—to warn older voters of the potential dangers posed by a so-called radical Starmer-led Labour government gaining unchecked power.

And there you have it—a glimpse into the year’s most talked-about political lingo. Whether these terms will remain in the lexicon next year or fade away, only time will tell.