Read Anne Marie’s views in her weekly column; an advertisement sponsored by Conservative supporters.

Pre Budget Report

2009 has been a difficult year for many people; the credit crunch, recession and jobs crisis. Next year things must change.

The Pre-Budget Report demonstrated just how much we need that change - there is no doubt that the government failed to make the tough decisions on spending that were needed because they had one eye on the forthcoming election. The Treasury’s wish to cut the deficit was overruled by Gordon Brown and the end product was something that was not in the interests of anyone in this country.

The national debt is the biggest in the country’s peace time history and is equivalent to £23,000 for every man, woman and child in Teignbridge.

There was no attempt to tackle the huge deficit and the central feature was a tax on jobs that hits everyone earning over £20,000 – well below the average income. The national insurance rise needs to be reversed as a matter of priority.

The proposed increase in some types of benefit, including disability living allowance and child benefit has turned out to be temporary until after the election and the increase in stamp duty will come as a further blow to the housing market.

The year to come

The year to come promises to be an exciting one. With the most important General Election for a generation just around the corner, I’ll be trying to show Teignbridge residents how hard I will work for them if elected as their Member of Parliament and how they will benefit from a Conservative government.

My campaign will be about debating the important issues – putting Devon back on the map, rebuilding our local economy, creating real jobs, and getting a fair deal in health and education funding – not bashing my opponents.

We have all had enough of the political point scoring that has typified politics in the past and I want to see this election fought on the issues and my ability, and that of a future Conservative government, to deliver the change people want. We want a New Politics and my promise is to help deliver that.

Happy New Year!