New Year Message from Andrew

1.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Jan 2007

I am very pleased to wish you a very happy New Year.

As Parliament is taking a short break I've had the chance to get round the constituency more and meet people, and to listen to local views. It's a time when many of us look back and review the past year, and promise ourselves we'll do better in the next one. What's your New Year resolution, I wonder? Dieting is always popular - for the first week, anyway!

Nationally we need a few new year resolutions, too, and they need to last longer than a week. Looking back, the chickens have really come home to roost on the illegal invasion of Iraq, and sorting anything at all out from that catastrophic blunder will be a long-term job. Britain isn't doing too well on climate change, either, with more Carbon Dioxide pushed into the air in 2006 than before, when it is supposed to be less.

I think the country needs to go on a Carbon-free Diet - and stick to it! As it actually saves on fuel bills and petrol if we do, there are all-round benefits - fatter wallets, more comfy homes, and a cleaner planet. It is just that, like a real diet, it takes a bit of work and thought. I'll be doing my bit to make it happen down in Westminster in 2007, and I hope you will here in Stockport, too.

Finally, my thanks on behalf of us all to those who haven't been able to take a break this Christmas - especially those who provide the vital services we just take for granted as we snooze and party!