Westminster Diary - 7th December 2009

Monday, 7th December 2009

In terms of national news, 2009 is likely to be remembered as a year of crisis. Both our financial and political systems have been considerably weakened. Our banks have asked for more and more taxpayers’ money but seem to lend less and less of it back to us as individuals and businesses. 2010 promises austerity and reduced public spending, along with the need to face our growing mountain of national debt.

At Westminster, Parliament has been shaken by a blizzard of moats, duck houses, bell towers and claims for mortgages that did not exist. Public esteem for Members of Parliament - never very high my lifetime - is now at rock bottom. This sorry period of redactions and resignations is not so damaging because Parliament will lose Members whose behaviour has frankly been criminal, nor because it will lose some good and decent Members who are tired of having their public service tarnished by the behaviour of others, but because this Parliament has lost its moral authority to govern. In my view, only a general election can restore it and as luck would have it, there will be one in 2010. That is the only New Year prediction I can make with any confidence.

If bankers and politicians have spent 2009 vying for the position of least respected profession, the position of the most respected has never been in doubt. The men and women of the armed forces who have fought on our behalf in Afghanistan - whatever our judgement of the value of their mission - continue to earn our great respect and deserve our profound gratitude. As my brother begins his term at Camp Bastion, I feel particularly for those forces families with loved ones serving in Afghanistan who face an onerous 2010.

A New Year always brings new hope and in 2010, there is much to hope for: improvement in the economy, political revival and stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan. I hope you have a happy and prosperous New Year.

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Updated on Monday, 7th December 2009