The year 2025 will be remembered as a period of profound political turbulence, from budgetary missteps to the renewed swagger of Donald Trump on the global stage. Amidst the gloom, however, one voice consistently mined the rich seam of absurdity in Westminster: the peerless sketchwriter Quentin Letts.
A Year of Characters Captured in Ink
Letts' unique brand of observational satire provided much-needed levity, turning parliamentary proceedings into a gallery of unforgettable portraits. His descriptions, often merciless yet always witty, cut to the quick of a politician's persona. From physical quirks to vocal peculiarities, no detail was too small to escape his razor-sharp pen.
We've compiled some of his most memorable lines from 2025 into a challenging quiz. Each barbed description is paired with four possible subjects. Do you have the political nous to identify who Letts was lampooning?
The Hilarious Descriptions: A Test of Your Westminster Knowledge
The quiz spans the political spectrum, targeting figures from all major parties and key international players. One question describes a figure whose "vanity is a Ming vase, to be handled only by qualified Sotheby’s porters with green-baize gloves," hinting at the high-stakes ego of a world leader. Another paints a picture of a minister who "steamed into the Commons, hair set in aspic, gait clenched. Buttocks like two halves of a walnut."
Letts' imagery is nothing if not vivid. He compares one politician's speaking style to "bilge pumps in Venice during high water," and another's newfound physique to boasting "a Russian supermodel’s cheekbones." He labels a senior royal a "zero-hours-contract duke" and imagines a shadow minister doing "to ministers what Hannibal Lecter used to do to human liver."
More Than Just Mockery: The Art of the Sketch
While uproariously funny, these sketches serve a deeper purpose. They cut through political spin and manufactured image, offering a candid, often uncomfortably accurate, glimpse of the individuals who govern. The descriptions go beyond mere mockery; they capture the essence of political performance, the tension in the chamber, and the sheer theatre of Westminster.
The quiz includes 40 tantalising clues, covering everyone from the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers to opposition figures, world leaders, and even notable broadcasters. It challenges you to look past the policy and the podium to recognise the character beneath.
So, how well do you know the personalities that defined 2025? Dive into the quiz and see if you can match Quentin Letts' legendary wit to the correct political figure. The answers, ranging from Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump to Angela Rayner and Nigel Farage, are provided to let you check your score. Will you prove to be a master of political observation, or will these satirical portraits leave you stumped?
