1. What have you learned from 2024 that you are taking into 2025?
Make sure you carry an umbrella with you (I do)! More seriously, expect the unexpected. From a political perspective, 2024 has taught me that you should take nothing for granted, especially the weather! I began the year anticipating a General Election towards the end of 2024. Who could have guessed that it would have worked out the way that it did?
In May, everyone wondered why Rishi Sunak called it when he did. By the time the Treasury reported the £22billion black hole at the end of July, we knew exactly why he’d done so.
2. What was your biggest highlight of the year?
Well, July 4 features pretty highly… and the help and goodwill that friends and colleagues shared, showed and invested in what we were doing.
Beyond the election itself, witnessing the State Opening of Parliament with the new King was definitely something I shall never forget. Speaking for the first time in the House of Commons (when I asked the Chancellor Exchequer the last government bogus pledge funding for a new Watford hospital). Also, attending a carol service at St Mary Undercroft which is tucked away in Parliament off of Westminster Hall. You’d never know it’s there and it’s beautiful.
3. Come the end of this year, what will you hope to have achieved?
When you get elected to Parliament, everyone you meet is lovely and friendly. But there is an element of, “Here’s your laptop, go and get on with it”. Going and getting on with it means sorting out office space, equipment, recruiting a team of people and so on. With the largest intake of new MPs since 1945, it all took time.
So, I am pleased we have done it.
4. What are you most excited about going into the new year?
New Oasis album? That might happen.
Truly, the potential 2025 presents! The year is unwritten. For all of us, there will triumphs, disappointments, highs and lows. We have to celebrate the wins and roll with the punches.
No longer shouting from the sidelines in impotent protest is worth looking forward to. The government’s agenda, breakfast clubs in every school, economic growth and fixing the foundations of our country will start delivery change and results.
5. What do you anticipate will be your biggest challenge?
There’s a local thing and a national thing that I believe present the biggest challenges for the year ahead.
The local one is that when I go out and talk to people, the cost-of-living crisis remains very real. People are still feeling incredibly stretched. Yes, we have a new Labour government, and it is pulling out all the stops to try and put things right – but you can’t expect to turn the oil tanker around in just five months. It’s going to take time after many years of ineffective government.
The national thing is the state of the finances. I know that this all comes in for much argy-bargy from the media and the Opposition – but the fact is, this is a Labour government. If the money was there to spend, we’d wisely spend it! The truth is that the last government promised tax cuts galore couple with incompatible promises of extra spending. It was clear when we got in, there was no money and no plan. The Conservatives had recklessly spent the reserves three times over. So, that’s a big national challenge for the year
I’m really looking forward to it through. I’m a very lucky person. I’m doing one of the best jobs you can do. It helps people and makes a difference to their lives. If we can keep that up, we’ll be doing alright. Happy New Year!
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