Boris Johnson Mayor of London
Deliver the best Paralympics ever and help London to a full recovery. Boring, boring, but there you go, I’m afraid.
Arianna Huffington Media magnate
Spend more time with my two daughters and less time on my three BlackBerrys. I want to read more about public displays of democracy and less about the private lives of politicians. And get more sleep!
Robert Peston BBC business editor
Bring my public feud with Eddie Mair to a conclusion, one way or another.
Joyce Carol Oates Novelist
Amidst our deteriorating US culture, where even the traditional facade of political hypocrisy is crumbling, and every sort of crisis flies at us like deranged neutrinos, it will be quite enough to fantasise about just getting through another 12 months.
Simon Blackburn Philosopher
I have a professional interest in avoiding resolutions, since many philosophers think that making and then breaking them is irrational. My view is that it is doubtfully rational to make them, unless like Ulysses you have a crew who can tie you to the mast. But of course I intend to become thinner, wiser, drier and younger.
Sandi Toksvig Comedian & presenter
I intend to be a fan of slow: slow cooking, slow travel, sloe gin.
Brian Schmidt Astrophysicist
Take time out from reflecting on the universe and exercise…
Jon Snow Journalist & presenter
Reach the parts we never reach; try harder to understand views I don’t agree with; coax my mental age forward from 23 years; and remember that whatever happens, love is infinitely more important than money, and money still can’t buy you love.
Julie Myerson Novelist & journalist
Think less, talk less, not let the cats, dog or kids dictate my agenda, not feel responsible for everyone’s well-being, accept that I can’t cook and NEVER again try to do it, try not to mind when the kitchen floor’s dirty, try to understand at least some of the news, grow more things from seed, stop looking at strange, unaffordable antiquities on eBay, sleep more, drink less and get up earlier so I can write my novel quicker.
Max Hastings Editor & historian
It is never too late to learn when to keep one’s mouth shut, a skill I have never mastered, the absence of which has been getting me into no end of trouble for 66 years.
Timothy Garton Ash Author
Spend less time on email. [Sent by email.]
Shirley Williams Politician
Save a free public service NHS—no objection to private input but it must not end up as a market-based system. Changes yes, like less treatment in hospital and more in community and in people’s homes, but please, please maintain the basic principle.
Philip Pullman Novelist
I resolve to say no when people ask me to do things that involve taking time away from my work. I’ve made that resolution every year for over a decade, and every year I’ve failed to keep it. This time I shall not fail.
Douglas Alexander Labour MP
Read more books and fewer articles (apart from those in Prospect of course!)
Bob Crow Trade union leader
Make the distribution of wealth more accessible and equitable for the less well off.
Ian Rankin Crime writer
I’ve always broken my resolutions in the past. If I were to make one, it would probably be to lose weight. But I’ll carry on eating, drinking and taking no exercise, making the resolution pointless.
Shami Chakrabarti Director, Liberty
Buy more books—I never get the chance to read any more, apart from briefings and press releases. As for Liberty, our resolution is to knock talk of repealing the Human Rights Act on the head once and for all.
Martin Sorrell CEO of WPP group
Improve revenue growth and margins; travel less and think more; bowl Clive Lloyd and Mike Procter again; and spend more time with my family.
Jonathan Coe Novelist
Take inspiration from the French author Stéphane Hessel—and the more articulate of the Occupy protesters—and get angry again. Hessel is a veteran of the Resistance and his bestselling pamphlet Indignez-vous! is a call to arms for the younger generation, urging them not to be satisfied with the unjust, unsustainable way of life that their parents have bequeathed them.
Tony Parsons Journalist
Make sure that my family survives the coming storm.
Adair Turner FSA chairman
Restart the saxophone lessons I suspended in 2008 and get a merit in my Grade 4.
Dermot O’Leary TV presenter
Make more time for reading all the papers (broadsheets) and visiting places in London I’ve not been to for years, like St Paul’s.
Mark Malloch Brown Peer & author
No more Sunday newspapers! I gave up reading them when I was a minister because they too often wrecked my day. As a recovering politician, I started reading them again taking illicit pleasure I suppose in the troubles of a new crop of ministers. But I waste too much of a Sunday morning.
Edward Skidelsky Philosopher
Learn Chinese, not only to keep abreast of the future world hegemon but because I am marrying a Chinese woman, and don’t want our children scheming behind my back.
Sayeeda Warsi Minister
With late-night Lords sittings, foreign visits and travel across the country, my home in Yorkshire can often seem far away. I love my job, but I crave a few Saturday nights with the family in front of TheX Factor.
Barbara Windsor Actress
Pilates. I mean it. I’ve put on eight pounds, I’m only 4’10” and it’s no good.
Anthony Seldon Political historian
Spend an hour in silence each and every day, and stand on my head for five minutes each morning (without falling over).
Daniel Dennett Philosopher & scientist
Stop frittering away my time responding to requests from magazines for brief responses to whatever they are featuring. (PS: No hard feelings. This one was fun.)
Ed Miliband Labour leader
“Hasn’t made one yet,” says spokesman.
Deliver the best Paralympics ever and help London to a full recovery. Boring, boring, but there you go, I’m afraid.
Arianna Huffington Media magnate
Spend more time with my two daughters and less time on my three BlackBerrys. I want to read more about public displays of democracy and less about the private lives of politicians. And get more sleep!
Robert Peston BBC business editor
Bring my public feud with Eddie Mair to a conclusion, one way or another.
Joyce Carol Oates Novelist
Amidst our deteriorating US culture, where even the traditional facade of political hypocrisy is crumbling, and every sort of crisis flies at us like deranged neutrinos, it will be quite enough to fantasise about just getting through another 12 months.
Simon Blackburn Philosopher
I have a professional interest in avoiding resolutions, since many philosophers think that making and then breaking them is irrational. My view is that it is doubtfully rational to make them, unless like Ulysses you have a crew who can tie you to the mast. But of course I intend to become thinner, wiser, drier and younger.
Sandi Toksvig Comedian & presenter
I intend to be a fan of slow: slow cooking, slow travel, sloe gin.
Brian Schmidt Astrophysicist
Take time out from reflecting on the universe and exercise…
Jon Snow Journalist & presenter
Reach the parts we never reach; try harder to understand views I don’t agree with; coax my mental age forward from 23 years; and remember that whatever happens, love is infinitely more important than money, and money still can’t buy you love.
Julie Myerson Novelist & journalist
Think less, talk less, not let the cats, dog or kids dictate my agenda, not feel responsible for everyone’s well-being, accept that I can’t cook and NEVER again try to do it, try not to mind when the kitchen floor’s dirty, try to understand at least some of the news, grow more things from seed, stop looking at strange, unaffordable antiquities on eBay, sleep more, drink less and get up earlier so I can write my novel quicker.
Max Hastings Editor & historian
It is never too late to learn when to keep one’s mouth shut, a skill I have never mastered, the absence of which has been getting me into no end of trouble for 66 years.
Timothy Garton Ash Author
Spend less time on email. [Sent by email.]
Shirley Williams Politician
Save a free public service NHS—no objection to private input but it must not end up as a market-based system. Changes yes, like less treatment in hospital and more in community and in people’s homes, but please, please maintain the basic principle.
Philip Pullman Novelist
I resolve to say no when people ask me to do things that involve taking time away from my work. I’ve made that resolution every year for over a decade, and every year I’ve failed to keep it. This time I shall not fail.
Douglas Alexander Labour MP
Read more books and fewer articles (apart from those in Prospect of course!)
Bob Crow Trade union leader
Make the distribution of wealth more accessible and equitable for the less well off.
Ian Rankin Crime writer
I’ve always broken my resolutions in the past. If I were to make one, it would probably be to lose weight. But I’ll carry on eating, drinking and taking no exercise, making the resolution pointless.
Shami Chakrabarti Director, Liberty
Buy more books—I never get the chance to read any more, apart from briefings and press releases. As for Liberty, our resolution is to knock talk of repealing the Human Rights Act on the head once and for all.
Martin Sorrell CEO of WPP group
Improve revenue growth and margins; travel less and think more; bowl Clive Lloyd and Mike Procter again; and spend more time with my family.
Jonathan Coe Novelist
Take inspiration from the French author Stéphane Hessel—and the more articulate of the Occupy protesters—and get angry again. Hessel is a veteran of the Resistance and his bestselling pamphlet Indignez-vous! is a call to arms for the younger generation, urging them not to be satisfied with the unjust, unsustainable way of life that their parents have bequeathed them.
Tony Parsons Journalist
Make sure that my family survives the coming storm.
Adair Turner FSA chairman
Restart the saxophone lessons I suspended in 2008 and get a merit in my Grade 4.
Dermot O’Leary TV presenter
Make more time for reading all the papers (broadsheets) and visiting places in London I’ve not been to for years, like St Paul’s.
Mark Malloch Brown Peer & author
No more Sunday newspapers! I gave up reading them when I was a minister because they too often wrecked my day. As a recovering politician, I started reading them again taking illicit pleasure I suppose in the troubles of a new crop of ministers. But I waste too much of a Sunday morning.
Edward Skidelsky Philosopher
Learn Chinese, not only to keep abreast of the future world hegemon but because I am marrying a Chinese woman, and don’t want our children scheming behind my back.
Sayeeda Warsi Minister
With late-night Lords sittings, foreign visits and travel across the country, my home in Yorkshire can often seem far away. I love my job, but I crave a few Saturday nights with the family in front of TheX Factor.
Barbara Windsor Actress
Pilates. I mean it. I’ve put on eight pounds, I’m only 4’10” and it’s no good.
Anthony Seldon Political historian
Spend an hour in silence each and every day, and stand on my head for five minutes each morning (without falling over).
Daniel Dennett Philosopher & scientist
Stop frittering away my time responding to requests from magazines for brief responses to whatever they are featuring. (PS: No hard feelings. This one was fun.)
Ed Miliband Labour leader
“Hasn’t made one yet,” says spokesman.
