It’s been another memorable year. Our economy continues to prosper and since 2010 no G7 economy has grown faster than ours. That has allowed the Conservative Government to halve the budget deficit and put more money into public services. The Spending Review included a commitment to increase NHS funding by £10 billion a year by 2020, enabling award-winning Airedale Hospital to remain the jewel in our crown and offer the highest standards of patient care.

I am particularly pleased that unemployment in Keighley and Ilkley has fallen by almost a third over the past 12 months, providing many more families and individuals with the security of a regular salary.

2016 brings the introduction of the National Living Wage for over-25s which will rise to more than £9 by 2020, and the Basic State Pension will again go up by at least 2.5 per cent through the triple lock.

But there will be challenges, not least with regard to security as we continue to face down the terrorist scourge of ISIL/Daesh.

I would like to thank you for re-electing me as your Member of Parliament in May, and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Kris Hopkins

MP for Keighley Constituency