NEWTON Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris reflects on the past year:

WELL Christmas is over, and the new year’s here!

At the beginning of the year, in my first January column I usually look back at the achievements of the last year and ahead at the challenges and priorities for the forthcoming year – with a degree of hope and of expectation.

One word that certainly wasn’t mentioned in previous New Year columns was ‘Coronavirus’. How times change! But let’s keep our focus on that hope – and that expectation for a brighter future.

It would be very easy and, let’s be honest, completely understandable to just write 2020 off as a disaster – and just hope and pray 2021 is better.

However, while it has undoubtedly been challenging with this disease impacting so many lives – with adversity often comes some small moments of positivity. Indeed, the situation we find ourselves in has, at times, led to some amazing acts of kindness and resilience.

This year has seen communities, be they our villages, towns, district, county or indeed the entire country come together in order to help each other out in times of great difficult and challenging situations.

Whether that be community transport, community groups, churches, local action groups or individuals simply looking out for their neighbours, so many people have pitched in to make a difference this year.

Small acts of kindness have made a very big difference to an awful lot of people and it is absolutely right that this is recognised.

The biggest thanks of course should go to the thousands of key workers who have quite literally kept the country going, especially those in the emergency services and the social care sector. With contact between relatives limited by necessity, these amazing professionals have been with our loved ones in their time of need when we, as families, have unfortunately not been able to.

It’s not easy to put your own health on the line as thousands of doctors, nurses, health and care workers, firemen and policemen have done for others. They have done it willingly and selflessly.

Similarly, our teachers, pupils, and schools have been on a rollercoaster ride this year, being closed, re-opened and points in between.

A massive thank you for all those who work in our schools who have managed to keep the show on the road, despite a constantly changing landscape, especially regarding the exams.

The actions of the Department for Education have, at times, been simply unacceptable, a view which I have made perfectly clear to the Secretary of State and Ministers. Much of this has I believe been a result of poor planning – and then a knee jerk reaction. If we learn nothing else from this year, it must be that we must plan better and build in resilience.

I would also like to thank the staff at our local councils (county, district, town and parish) for all the work that they have done this year in trying to provide services to residents at what is an extremely difficult time.

The speed at which some financial support schemes have been implemented has, at times, led to some incredibly fast turnarounds interpreting government schemes, to support those in need.

One of the best things to come out of this year has been the establishing of a fortnightly call with representatives from our town councils, chambers of commerce and other local businesses to discuss that has arisen impacting the community – which together we can do something about – and we do.

Whilst there is still a fair way to go to beat this virus – and the beginning of 2021 won’t be a return to total normality, there is very much light at the end of the tunnel as more of our most vulnerable and elderly residents receive the vaccine.

We will get through this together and return to normal, and I very much look forward to visiting fantastic organisations and businesses around the constituency, once it is safe to do so again. And they are fantastic – and many will regrow while others will reconstruct into something different.

The human spirit and innovative ideas will get us back on a positive trajectory. While tourism and hospitality businesses have been some of the hardest hit, I can see a future of increasing ‘staycations’– with many heading to the South West, especially Devon and Cornwall that will provide opportunities aplenty.

When all is said and done, there have been some real achievements!

More people have superfast broadband, more people have homes, work on the Dawlish railway line has continued with full government backing, we have seen investment in our town centre infrastructure and more investment in health and care. It is not all that we want or indeed need but let’s not forget the positives.

Yes, I will be fighting for much more on all these fronts – including retaining Teignmouth hospital, and investment in our high streets, small businesses and social care, but let’s not forget the good only focusing on the bad.

My team and I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year – 2021 will be a much better year!

As always, if you would like to book a virtual surgery call or raise a specific issue, please call my office on 01626 368277 or email [email protected] to arrange an appointment. Please note, nobody will be in the office until January 4 answering the phone, but your messages and emails will be responded to when the office re-opens.