Norman's Holiday Message

12.00.00am GMT Thu 18th Dec 2008

With the holidays coming fast, I wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone a good festive break. I hope everyone is looking forward to spending some well earned time with family and friends. I know I owe my family some time after what has been an extremely busy and important year for North Norfolk.

2008 has been a year of mixed emotions for both myself and local people. I feel honoured this year to have helped a record number of constituents with issues and am proud of the number of successful results we have had for individual constituents. I am pleased that we have made progress in our battle to protect the Broads and I am delighted that the campaign to preserve our GP dispensaries was successful. However, I am incredibly concerned at the current state of the economy and the possible repercussions this may have for local people. I realise how anxious many people will be about their jobs and their homes. My colleague, Vince Cable will continue to put pressure on the Government to ensure that small businesses in particular can borrow and to offer tax cuts for low and middle income families.

We have already seen the unfortunate loss of some local post offices, and I believe we face a real fight to protect many aspects of rural life in the coming year.

I strongly believe that in 2009, all Parliamentarians, regardless of their party must be prepared to work together for the good of the country. I can promise you that I will do my utmost to work as hard as I can for the local people and for North Norfolk.

I have greatly appreciated the help and guidance of so many people during the last year.. I have always said that we in North Norfolk punch above our weight, because we are committed and united and therefore highly effective. I believe that this is a very important approach to pursue in the future.

Once again I would like to take this time to express how privileged I feel to represent North Norfolk and how much I am looking forward to helping and meeting many more of you in 2009.

Happy Holidays!