2010 in review

It is that time of year when people look back over the last twelve months and reflect on the highs and lows. This blog is no exception (although reading other's thoughts over the last few days it is clear there is much consensus on 2010).

Highs;
- The excitement of the TV debates (and Gordon Brown's first performance, which will forever be known as the "I agree with Nick" night!)
- David Cameron’s “big, open and comprehensive” offer to the Lib Dems the day after the election; it was a stunning and breathtaking moment (especially for those of us who were at that time highly sleep-deprived!)
- The Coalition negotiations and the poker faces of Hague, Laws and co with the UK press chasing them down the street for five days
- Seeing David Cameron on the steps of Number 10- it made the previous few months all worth it
- The Rose Garden press conference; another stunning occasion which hardly anyone who watched could quite believe was happening
- A personal highlight was seeing my name on a Parliamentary election ballot paper for the first time and the privilege of representing the Conservative Party in Halton; a truly humbling experience

The lows;
- Alistair Stewart shouting throughout the first TV debate!
- Just coming up short on election night (despite the amazing result in Cannock Chase with Aidan Burley defining the odds to win)
- Gordon Brown’s petulant exit from Number 10 to avoid being photographed leaving in the dark (not quite how our constitutional arrangements should work!)
- Almost every Liverpool FC game!

Christmas

I would like to wish all readers of this blog a very merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful, and healthy New Year.

Thank you

As the year draws to a close, it is a great opportunity to thank everyone who supported me this year in my campaign in Halton. Your help was simply fantastic. I will always be grateful for all that did for me and our brilliant local Councillors and Council candidates.

It was a huge privilege to work with you during 2010.

What a year!

2010 has been a huge year for our country. We eventually saw the back of Gordon Brown and his failing Labour Government, and then saw the Conservatives and Lib Dems put party differences to one side and come together to work in the national interest.

It has not been without it bumps and scrapes along the way, but who seriously would have thought it could be any different? We are two distinct parties. We have our own ideas and policies. Our own identities. But we have put our country first to give Britain the strong and stable government it needs, at a time when it needs it most.

The challenges we face working as a Coalition are nothing compared with the challenge of clearing up the mess the Labour Party left behind. I am really proud of the progress the Government has made since May, especially as it had to make so many difficult and often unpalatable decisions. We are already starting to see signs of improvement in our economy and in society; the longer this Government continues, the more progress I believe we will see. We can look forward to 2011 with a renewed sense of optimism that our great country is back on track.