GREETINGS to everyone in the Congleton constituency and all the very best to you all for 2019.

It is a tremendous privilege and honour to serve this lovely area as your Member of Parliament. During the past year I have once again been incredibly impressed at our strong community spirit, whether shown in voluntary activities such as the thriving Middlewich Good Neighbours scheme, which I was very pleased to be invited to become patron of recently, or in the many delightful local cultural activities – the Holmes Chapel Chorus concert at St Luke’s Church was a wonderful way to start Christmas.

Thank you to all of you who give your time and talents so generously – care for others is far from absent here, and not just at Christmas.

As we enter 2019, I know there are understandable concerns on the part of very many of you about what the coming year will hold, both for you individually and for our country.

One of my key roles is to take your views and concerns back to Parliament. I take this responsibility very seriously.

So for example just over a week ago I met in Twemlow with and listened to a large gathering of local farmers; shortly before that with a group of high school students.

I often visit local businesses, and meet with those who serve our community in public service to discuss how we can best work together.

I want to assure you that I also read personally and take careful note of the many emails letters and calls which come to me from constituents and stand ready to listen weekly to your concerns at my regular meetings with residents at libraries in Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, and Middlewich or at my office at Congleton. If you would like to meet me, please do get in touch.

Meanwhile, all the very best for 2019 and thank you again for all that you do to make this area such a pleasure to represent in Parliament.