By any measure, 2016 was an extraordinary year in politics, dominated by the Brexit vote which caused convulsions across all parties.

Political editor Paul Francis reflects on the highlights and lowlights, the heroes and villains and hands out the bouquets and brickbats.

“I Told You So” Award:

Loved and loathed in equal measure, Nigel Farage ends the year as the politician who still wields more influence and generates more column inches than any other. Delivering Brexit is a triumphant note on which to depart the political stage but does anyone really believe he wants to slip off quietly? Not now he is besties with “The Donald.”

Usain Bolt Award

Theresa May hardly had to break sweat as she comfortably secured the Conservative leadership race, cruising effortlessly ahead of her opponents in an imperious manner to break the tape first. Mind you, her rivals didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory in a campaign that really had only one winner - especially after Boris Johnson blindsided everyone by pulling out of the race before it began.

“Better Late Than Never” Award

After much Gallic shrugging of shoulders implying there was nothing to be done, the French authorities finally decided to close the Calais jungle camp. It came amid considerable political brinkmanship from would-be Presidential candidates, who said they would move border controls back to the UK. And the camp would end up being relocated in Dover. Or Folkestone.

“Dad Dancing” Award

Step - or samba - forward the former Labour Chancellor Ed Balls, who proved an unlikely people’s favourite among Strictly Come Dancing fans for a series of showstopping performances that made him the most successful former politician on the show since Ann Widdecombe.

Eternal Optimist Award

Labour hasn’t had much to celebrate in 2016 which meant its leader Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t had much to lift his party’s spirits. Still, there were some positives. At a conference, he cited the party’s success in winning a local by-election. That would be the ground-breaking victory...in a Ramsgate town council by-election. Things can only get better.

Political Limpet Award

Despite defections and a messy U-turn on Manston Airport, the Ukip-led Thanet council confounded expectations by clinging on to power. It lost its working majority in 2015 but regained control in August 2016, winning two by-elections to restore order. How long for is anyone’s guess.

Money to Burn Award

The former Manston airfield has been on standby as an emergency lorry park for Operation Stack since September 2015 - but has not been used once for that reason. The cost to the taxpayer to keep it ticking over? A mere £3.5m.

Political Acronym Award

What else but ‘JAMS’ which entered the political lexicon after new Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to help the people who were “just about managing”. Although so far there’s not been much jam today and not much promise of jam tomorrow.

PR Stunt That Got Derailed

Railway bosses at Southeastern hoped to get some exposure for a new ticketless “tap and go” scheme and must have been delighted to get the rail minister Paul Maynard to launch it. The problem? The event came in the midst of another set of strikes by Southern staff. The result? Mr Maynard was subjected to a round of media interviews demanding to know what the government was doing to end the dispute.