2010 has, in many ways, been a difficult year. The UK’s economy has strengthened, but the continuing dark clouds of our debt legacy and foreign banking crises, hang over us with the potential to burst at any time. A decade of carefree state spending of taxpayers’ money was always going to come to a painful conclusion and spending cuts will not be pleasant. And yet I hope that people understand that the Coalition Government are sorting out the mess that we inherited with the right intentions. It is easy to squander public money and rack up debt; it is harder to reverse the process. But we are determined to do what is right for the country – to put us back on track and leave our children the sustainable country, economy and environment that they deserve. This is our challenge for 2011. So facing what could be a tough year, I wish all my constituents fortitude and success in the New Year and a happy and peaceful Christmas. Jonathan Djanogly