Christmas is my favourite time of year. It’s always lovely to have the opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife and our community.
It’s also a time for some really special church services. I especially enjoyed the nine lessons and carols service at St Alphege Church, and joining Bishop Dr David Carr at the Renewal Christian Centre.
One thing which has really struck me from speaking to local residents is how very supportive they have been of Theresa May. Whilst too many in Westminster get carried away with stories of plots and conflict, I think a great majority recognise that the Prime Minister is working very hard to honour the result of the referendum and deliver a Brexit deal which protects the interests of our exporters and employers.
I was pleased to cast my vote in her favour during last week’s leadership challenge, and I hope that my parliamentary colleagues will now pull together and focus on the many important tasks facing the Government.
Last week I had the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister personally about just one of these: the distribution of 34,000 copies of “Your Money Matters”, a new financial education textbook, to every secondary school in the land.
This fantastic new resource, funded by Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com and backed by the Young Money organisation, will help teachers provide their pupils with a firm grasp of the skills needed to be financially independent.
As Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People this project has been a personal priority of mine over the past year. Both in my previous career as a personal finance journalist and in my campaigns against fraud as an MP I have seen first-hand how lacking these skills makes people more vulnerable, and can have a huge impact on their life chances.
I was very pleased that the Prime Minister offered this project her personal support, and I hope to continue this important work in the New Year.
Finally, let me close by wishing one and all of you a very merry Christmas!
Originally published in the Solihull News, 21/12/18.
