When reflecting on the last 12 months in British politics, I found myself casting my mind back to a simpler time. A time when David Cameron was forced to make a televised statement outside his house – while wearing a fleece – about smoking weed in high school. When calling a bigoted woman a “bigoted woman” was the biggest political scandal, and when eating a bacon sandwich in an odd manner ruined careers.

Now the innocence of the pre-Brexit era is long gone. Westminster’s largest parties have different leaders who, for the first time since 2013, have navigated a calendar year in politics without a referendum or a general election. What a relief… Or so we thought.

Depending on the news of the day and, of course, who you ask, Britain is either teetering towards a second referendum or a no-deal Brexit. The only indisputable truth is that, two years on from 2016’s EU referendum, people are more divided than ever. Westminster has somehow managed to become even more polarised than the electorate, which is quite an achievement. Though, rather then being inevitable, the bacterial divisiveness of our politics has been allowed to fester and multiply in a leadership vacuum.

This year we have seen both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn lacking in political and moral authority. With Number 10 occupied by a Remainer pretending to be a Leaver, opposed at the dispatch box by a notorious Eurosceptic who “campaigned” for Remain, it’s difficult to trust either of them.

While balancing their personal beliefs with political realities, May and Corbyn have so far failed to reconcile party members’ and MPs’ demands with the wider electorate. Both have also been engulfed in scandals that would have been fatal to their careers just a few years ago.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 September 2020 A model presents a creation during the Bora Aksu catwalk show at London Fashion Week 2020 Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2020 World kickboxing champion Carl Thomas during his attempt to run a marathon while pulling a plane at Elvington Airfield near York. The attempt is raising funds for Ollie's Army Battling Against Battens, an organisation campaigning to raise GBP 250,000 to fund a clinical trial aimed at saving the sight of children with CNL2 Batten Disease PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2020 Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner speaking during Prime Minister's Questions UK Parliament/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 September 2020 People enjoying the autumn sunshine as they punt along the River Cam in Cambridge PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2020 Early morning light bathes the skyscrapers of the City of London, at the start of a week in which the UK is expected to bask in temperatures of more than 30 degrees PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2020 England celebrate after they dismissed Australia's Alex Carey to win the second ODI match of the series at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2020 Protesters outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London, as marches and rallies form across the country calling for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers and an increase in NHS funding PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2020 An empty migrant dinghy floats off the beach at St Margaret's Bay after the occupants landed from France in Dover Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2020 A view of small boats thought to be used in migrant crossings across the Channel at a storage facility in Dover, Kent PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2020 EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, left, arriving from the Eurostar with EU Ambassador to the UK, Portuguese diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida at St Pancras International railway station, London, for the latest round of the negotiations on a free trade deal between the EU and the UK PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2020 Dawn over Coquet Island, a small island off Amble on the Northumberland coast PA UK news in pictures 7 September 2020 A hovercraft arrives to Southsea, Hampshire from the Isle of Wight PA UK news in pictures 6 September 2020 Forensics officers near the scene of multiple reported stabbings in Birmingham Reuters UK news in pictures 5 September 2020 Anti-migrant protesters demonstrate in Dover against immigration and the journeys made by refugees crossing the Channel to Kent PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2020 Activists take part in a demonstration against the HS2 hi-speed rail line outside the Department of Transport AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 September 2020 Peter Baker, who plays Trigger in the musical version of Only Fools and Horses, sweeps the stage of the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, after observing a 15 minute silence to show solidarity with those in the theatre industry that have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2020 Kadie Lane, right, 11, and Brooke Howourth, 11, hug on their walk to Marden Bridge Middle School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, for their first day of term, as schools in England reopen to pupils following the coronavirus lockdown PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2020 Extinction Rebellion protesters sitting outside The Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London PA UK news in pictures 31 August Surfers at Long Sands Beach, Tynemouth PA UK news in pictures 30 August Black Lives Matter protesters march through Notting Hill in London in the first Million People March EPA UK news in pictures 29 August A protester reacts as she demonstrates against the lockdown and use of face masks, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, outside Downing Street in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 August Caribbean soca dancers display their costumes as they promote the first ever digital Notting Hill Carnival, following the cancellation of the normal Carnival festivities due to the continued spread of the coronavirus disease, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 August Father and son team Chris and Sam Milford from historic building conservation specialists WallWalkers begin restoration work on the spire of Norwich Cathedral, which stands at over 312ft high. The first known spire was completed in 1297 PA UK news in pictures 26 August Giant waves at Seaham in County Durham, as the bad weather continues PA UK news in pictures 25 August An assistant at the Wallace Monument cleans the case which houses the William Wallace sword in the Hall of Arms room at the monument near Stirling as they prepare to re-open PA UK news in pictures 24 August Restored World War Two landing craft LCT 7074 is transported from from the Naval Base in Portsmouth to its final resting place at the D-Day Story at Southsea PA UK news in pictures 23 August Jenny Nguyen and Tony Cao, from Vietnam, pose for wedding photos on Tower Bridge in London, as it remains closed to vehicles after it was stuck open on Saturday due to a "mechanical fault". The landmark's Twitter account confirmed only pedestrians and cyclists could use it on Sunday morning PA UK news in pictures 22 August England's Zak Crawley hit 267, joining the exclusive Double Hundred club, on day two of the Third Test match against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton PA UK news in pictures 21 August Harri Teale gathers lavender during the annual harvest on the Wolds Way Lavender farm near Malton in North Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 20 August Parents and a student react after checking GCSE results at Ark Academy in London Reuters UK news in pictures 19 August Tate Modern workers hold a strike outside the gallery in London, to protest the institution's announcement that it would cut more than 300 jobs from its commercial arm, Tate Enterprises PA UK news in pictures 18 August Two rescued brown bear cubs, Mish (left) and Lucy, cool off in a pool after arriving at their new home with the wildlife conservation charity Wildwood Trust in Herne Bay, Kent. The orphaned pair, who have been living in a temporary home in Belgium since they were found abandoned and alone in a snowdrift in the Albanian mountains, will be acclimatised to their new life in the country before moving to a permanent home PA UK news in pictures 17 August A level students celebrate outside the Department for Education in London after it was confirmed that candidates in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm. The government U-turn comes just days after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson vowed there would be "no U-turn, no change. PA UK news in pictures 16 August Wasp players take a knee as Northampton Saints stand prior to kick-off in their Premiership match at Franklin's Gardens PA UK news in pictures 15 August Piper Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung attends the VJ Day National Remembrance event, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 14 August People including students hold placards on Whitehall outside Downing Street as they protest against the downgrading of A-level results. The government faced criticism after education officials downgraded more than a third of pupils' final grades in a system devised after the coronavirus pandemic led to cancelled exams yes AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 13 August Benita Stipp (centre) and Mimi Ferguson (left) react as students at Norwich School receive their A-Level results PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2020 A train derailment near Stonehaven has left three people dead. Driver Brett McCullough, conductor Donald Dinnie, and a passenger were killed when the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street service crashed amid heavy rain and flooding BBC UK news in pictures 11 August 2020 A woman hydrates in the sun after open water swimming at the West Reservoir Centre in north London Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 10 August 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes part in an archery session as he visits Premier Education Summer Camp at Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' in Upminster Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2020 People cycle through Cambridge as the heatwave continues in Britain EPA UK news in pictures 8 August 2020 Healthcare workers take part in a protest in London over pay conditions in the NHS Getty UK news in pictures 7 August 2020 Emergency services make their way along the seafront on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on one of the hottest days of the year PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2020 Alison Murphy poses for a picture by husband Peter as she walks through a field of sunflowers in Altrincham, Cheshire PA UK news in pictures 5 August 2020 Pakistan's Abid Ali being bowled by England's Jofra Archer during day one of the First Test match at the Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester PA UK news in pictures 4 August 2020 The 'Timbuktu tumblers' from Kenya perform their balancing act on the Southsea waterfront as Zippos Circus reopens in Portsmouth Rex UK news in pictures 3 August 2020 Pelicans interact with a visitor in St James's Park in London PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2020 Lewis Hamilton drives with a puncture towards the finish line to win the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone POOL/AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 1 August 2020 Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the FA Cup, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease Pool via Reuters UK news in pictures 31 July 2020 People enjoy the sunny weather at a Bournemouth Beach Reuters

Amber Rudd might have taken the blame, but May’s notoriously anti-immigrant fingerprints were all over the Windrush scandal. May’s “hostile environment” policies were responsible for black British citizens being illegally deported in a scandal which, both heartbreaking and maddening, is one of the most shameful in living memory.

When May wasn’t running through wheat fields or rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump, she was hiring new ministers as her cabinet disappeared quicker than Priti Patel on a “family holiday”. After creating the cabinet position of Brexit secretary, both appointees quit within months of each other over deals they were allegedly instrumental in negotiating – an appropriate summary of the prime minister’s year.

After becoming the first government in history to be found in contempt of parliament for failing to publish key Brexit legal advice, May postponed the vote on her EU withdrawal bill, knowing she would be defeated. As her own MPs turned on her, May restored the Tory whip to two MPs facing serious sexual harassment accusations – the most damning moment of her premiership so far.

May’s slow implosion, after years of Tory infighting over Europe, wouldn’t be so disastrous if Her Majesty’s opposition weren’t in a similarly tangled mess. On Brexit, it is not yet clear whether Corbyn’s inability to follow or articulate Labour party policy is deliberate or accidental idiocy, but either way it is terrible for the country.

As for scandals, Corbyn never misses an opportunity to remind everyone how untrustworthy he is. His denial that he was “involved” in laying a wreath for terrorists was almost as disturbing as his cult-like followers’ inability to believe photographic evidence that suggested otherwise. Then there was his shockingly inadequate response to alleged antisemitism within the Labour party, which was followed by the emergence of a 2013 clip which showed him making “jokes” that many perceived to be antisemitic. Even Labour MPs described the video as “sickening” and “inexcusable”.

According to YouGov polls tracking who the public think will make the best prime minister, Corbyn has been outperformed by “not sure” for the entirety of 2018. With an approval rating of minus 19 per cent, it seems that retiring that ghastly tan suit might be the only positive he can take from this year.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Since the 2017 general election, the Conservatives and Labour have been neck-and-neck in the polls. Though, for most voters, the choice between them is a matter of deciding who is the lesser of two evils. If both May and Corbyn decided to stand down now, at the same time, I would estimate that about 80 per cent of the electorate would either breathe a great sigh or relief or react with jubilation. At perhaps the most pivotal moment in our nation’s modern history, having two leaders who are this widely disliked is an extremely worrying place for our democracy to be.

Brexit was seen by many as a revolt against “politics are usual”. Yet the new, post-referendum normal has turned out to be a never-ending tug-of-war of inadequacy, incompetence and deliberate deception. If Britain wants smarter politicians, we’re going to have to start being smarter voters. But with politics outside Scotland dominated by two parties with leaders who aren’t even competent enough to organise a televised debate, let alone negotiate Brexit, where else are voters to turn?