2026 – A Year of Choice

When Labour took power from the Conservatives, I wrote an article predicting what the next four years would bring. If you want to see how accurate those predictions have been so far, you can read it here: https://shirebrook247.com/2024/07/05/mark-my-words/

Some of those predictions have already come true. Others are still unfolding. Labour has been in power for just 18 months, so they still have plenty of time to fulfil all of my predictions. Sadly, in some areas, I underestimated the speed at which things would deteriorate. Take unemployment. I predicted a 2% rise over four years, but Labour managed to push unemployment up by over 1% in just 18 months.

In real terms, that means around 320,000 fewer people in work—paying tax, supporting services—and more people dependent on benefits. Entire towns’ worth of jobs have gone, meanwhile Labour is pumping money into “benefit street” as never before (the number of people on benefits has grown by 1 million since Labour took over). The trend is clear: “smart money” moving out, “spongers” moving in. Hence my first concrete prediction: by December 2026, unemployment will break 6%.

SECOND PREDICTION – BY-ELECTIONS

My second prediction for 2026 is a simple one: there will be a by-election, and the town will stand in front of a choice: old Labour (if they field a candidate) or new blood. A notice of vacancy for two seats in the South Ward is already posted on the BDC website and was supposed to be resolved on the 30th. I checked the BDC website on the morning of 31 December. The notice should have changed to either a co-option announcement or a by-election announcement. Nothing changed. I assume the website will be updated on the 2nd or 3rd of January. My prediction? Someone has triggered that by-election. Just to be clear—it wasn’t me. (We will know if I was right about this prediction very soon.)

THIRD PREDICTION – CORRUPTION

We are hearing declarations about cooperation and “working together for the town.” I would like nothing more than for those words to be matched by action. However, based on recent experience, I predict something different. Fine slogans, empty phrases, lofty speeches, delay tactics, cancelling and interrupting meetings, distraction from real problems—all of this will return to STC at the speed of light the moment someone from the opposition challenges the Labour “elite” on one of the net-zero deals.

All it would take is for an opposition councillor to submit, ten clear days before a Full Council meeting, a motion asking the Town Clerk to add to the agenda a discussion on the heating system at the Leisure Centre, then stand up at the meeting and say:

“Chairman, I wish to draw the Council’s attention to concerning discrepancies in the heating fuel consumption data for the Leisure Centre, as documented in the Town Clerk’s report on the AMP heating system. According to this report, pellet consumption at the Leisure Centre almost doubled over a two-year period. Data for two years were, for reasons unknown, classified. Furthermore, the published data indicates that the facility allegedly consumed more pellets in a single spring month of 2020 than during an entire winter season of 2019/2020.

Perhaps most troubling is the following: the Town Clerk’s report shows that the Leisure Centre consumed twice as many pellets during the COVID closure period than it did in 2016, when the facility was open and operational for the full year. These figures raise serious questions that warrant further professional investigation and an audit by a forensic accountant. I therefore move that this Council commissions a comprehensive audit of pellet fuel consumption from 2013 to the present day, in order to establish a clear factual record, identify any anomalous trends or data patterns, and determine whether there has been any mismanagement of taxpayer resources. I have contact details for a resident who has agreed to cover the cost of said audit.
Thank you, Chairman.”

My prediction: if any of the new councillors does surprise me and raises this issue, Labour will block it while continuing to speak about “working together for the town.” For the record, and to remove any financial excuse: I have previously offered to pay for a professional audit myself if the Council votes to authorise one. Labour ignored that offer. So much for the spirit of cooperation. I maintain that declaration: I’m ready to pay for a forensic audit.

FOURTH PREDICTION – TAX RISES

The town is sinking financially. Last year, STC ran a deficit that was concealed, and one of the residents, Tina Price, had to involve the Information Commissioner’s Office to force the Town Clerk to get an answer for a Freedom of Information request on this subject. Read that again: the Town Clerk (who is also the Responsible Financial Officer) ignored a legally submitted FOI request about the town’s deficit and breached the FOI Act to hide the true financial situation of STC. Transparency, right?

Worse still, last year STC did almost nothing except firefight crises and cancel meetings. The town’s financial position is now worse than it was a year ago. But fear not—Labour has its traditional solution: tax rises. Same as ten times in the last eleven years.

How big will the increase be? I’ve heard a rumour that Labour has a “clever” plan: raise council tax by 15–20% now, so they don’t have to raise it in the election year (2027). After a year, people forget. When they see “0% increase” on their bill a few months before the election in 2027, maybe they’ll vote Labour again?

This is a plan designed to extract political gain from public forgetfulness. It’s political. It’s cold. Calculated. Selfish. My prediction? Labour won’t do it—a trick like that is more “Kane era” policy. I expect today’s Labour is not that brazen: they will raise our taxes by 7% this year and 7% next year. We will know soon whether I was right or if Labour went the politically calculated way—precept meetings are planned for January, and I’ll do my best to attend all of them.

FIFTH PREDICTION – CRIME

Your insecurity will go up. Two-tier justice didn’t go away: we just stopped talking about it. We got used to it. We accepted it—same as the never-ending tax rises. Under Labour, criminals are victims and a protected community. Those who talk about crime are turned into villains. That narrative will grow and spread.

This is not a criticism of frontline police officers. It is a consequence of political and judicial priorities. Paradoxically, the police are a victim here too. Can you imagine catching a criminal just to see him on the street next week, doing the same crap? Would YOU arrest him again?

There is money for an insane digital ID. But there is no money for a manned police station in Shirebrook and more feet on the beat. And it will get worse—that is my prediction. The crime rate in Shirebrook and the country will grow.

SIXTH PREDICTION – SOCIAL UNREST
I predict serious social unrest in 2026—maybe not in Shirebrook itself, but across the UK. Shirebrook residents are too exhausted to protest. Too indifferent. Too resigned. Too used to degradation and hopelessness. You can raise taxes for a decade and still find a useful idiot who attacks those speaking out against it—rather than against those who waste the taxes. You can flag nepotism and be insulted by a wannabe activist claiming “it’s just a tradition.”

SEVENTH PREDICTION – CREMATORIUM
Crematorium—it will become a massive burden right after launch. Increased traffic will be our least problem. Mark my words—traffic will be just the most visible problem.

ANY GOOD PREDICTIONS FOR SHIREBROOK AND THE UK?
Last year, I started with the article “2025—A Year of Hope.” I thought long and hard about which theme to choose for 2026. I settled on “choice.” This coming by-election or co-option, the audit issue—it is a clear choice between the usual Labour political games or an honest, transparent, decisive rejection of the Labour Party by residents and new councillors of Shirebrook. I know- all I predict is gloom and doom. Do I have any good predictions? Yeah, a few. Maybe I will write about them next week—who knows.

HONESTLY – WE NEED A CHANGE
I know—this article is very depressingly honest. You can hate me for it, but even the biggest hater must admit—something must change. This town, this country CAN’T go on like that. Uniparty turning this land into a shithole, and you know it. Something must change.

And I was, I am, and I will be the engine of that change for our town.

Sylwester Zwierzynski info@shirebrook247.com
All illustrations made by author with Chat GPT Image 1.5 model