From Boris Johnson to Nicola Sturgeon, our Associate Editor Mystic Mag looks into his crystal ball to predict the fortunes of prominent politicians in 2022

After sleaze and No10 partying turned politics upside down at the end of this year, our Associate Editor Mystic Mag looks into his crystal ball to predict the fortunes of prominent politicians in 2022.

Boris Johnson

Descending from Tory hero to zero in the time it took to tell a lie, the worst Prime Minister in modern times will be lucky to survive in Downing Street.

It’s difficult to see how the shifty charlatan can recover when his promise-breaking tax rises and soaring prices, plus that Brexit bad deal and Covid, will squeeze family incomes. The Conservatives do poorly in May’s local elections and the party will be over for the great loser.

Prediction: Down then out

Keir Starmer

Labour’s leader bounced back from Covid isolation a man transformed by Tory sleaze. Starmer’s task is to consolidate and increase poll leads by pummelling Johnson into the dirt and crafting an attractive Labour offer both reassuring and radical.

It’s the hardest job in politics but the former chief prosecutor’s started appealing to the jury as well as the judge.

Prediction: On the up

Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola, Queen of Scots, talks a great game yet speculation about the SNP First Minister’s future will louden. And she’ll leave Bute House a Nat failure if she fails to win independence with no referendum next year.

Prediction: Treading water

Ed Davey

Stunning by-election steals from the Cons in North Shropshire and Chesham mean 13 isn’t an unlucky number for a Lib Dem leader who expanded his MPs to a baker’s dozen.

The party’s still scarred by Conservative massacre at the end of the ConDem collaboration but the former Cabinet Minister can dream of more gains to taste power if the Tories slip and Labour misses a majority.

Prediction: Creeping forward

Liz Truss

Thatcher tribute act and Instagram obsessive Truss emerged as Tory favourite to succeed Johnson. The lightweight Foreign Secretary was handed a Brexit grenade and may blow up but keep her cool and she could be in No10 by the end of the year, unfitness for high office no barrier in the Tory Party after Cameron, May and Johnson.

Prediction: Might land at the top

Emmanuel Macron

The last two French Presidents were booted out after single terms so Macron hopes it’ll be third time lucky in April when he faces stiff challenges from the Right’s Valérie Pécresse and extremists Eric Zemmour and Marine Le Pen. He’s pulled up no trees yet remains a safer bet than realistic alternatives with the socialists marooned.

Prediction: Macron scrapes another Élysée five years

Rishi Sunak

All that glittered isn’t gold and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will pay a price for putting up National Insurance, taxes at a 70-year high destroying boasts he’s a low tax Thatcherite.

Overtaken by Truss in the Tory leadership race, No11 is as far as moneybags Sunak’s probably going.

Prediction: Shine coming off

Rachel Reeves

Labour desperately earning credibility on the economy is a huge test for the brainbox Shadow Chancellor and former Bank of England economist. Deputy leader Angela Rayner’s a Tory-biting rottie but Reeves has the party’s second most important post.

Prediction: Steady progress

Andy Burnham

The charismatic King of the North in Greater Manchester banging the drum for the great unwashed oop there gives him and them a powerful voice unheard before Labour mayors.

Prediction: Increases the volume

Steve Baker

Preposterous Tory self-styled Brexit hardman Steve Baker’s wrong about most things yet he’ll be on the money if the Wycombe MP marshals a backbench barmy army to oust loser Johnson.

Prediction: Queen or King maker

Mark Drakeford

Fifty-minute soundbites and self-deprecating mockery give Labour’s professorial First Minister of Wales an engaging appeal to gild a reputation for quiet competence in Cardiff.

Prediction: Dull shines

Joe Biden

Bold spending programmes in the US are overshadowed globally by tall challenges over how to handle with China and a Russia threatening Ukraine.

Prediction: Sleepy Joe kept awake by rivals

Sadiq Khan

Covid crisis and predecessor Johnson negotiating away a £700million Government grant put London’s Labour Mayor on the front line against Tory stealth cuts to public services.

Prediction: Bites Boris back

Nigel Farage

To appear relevant the pub bore transforming Brexit into a nice little personal earner on the backs of those who lost out will continue toying with a return to frontline politics.

Prediction: Stuck record

Jeremy Corbyn

With Starmer against letting him be an MP again, another 12 months of marginalisation and obscurity await.

Prediction: Still out in the cold

Donald Trump

The failed coup leader hides in plain sight by playing the cheated President plotting a comeback to keep out of jail.

Prediction: Boring on