![Westminster](http://www.peterkyle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/314/2018/09/IMG_4452-e1548844189391-800x0-c-default.jpg)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you for having me as your MP for another year. Even though there are some tough, terrifying, or exhausting moments in this job, I have never for a second forgotten what a privilege it is to represent Hove, Portslade and Hangleton up there in parliament and work as hard as I can down here in our community too.
Every day there are things that remind me how special our community is. In this last week for example I’ve had dozens and dozens of messages from residents urging me to get some decent rest over Christmas – I thought it was my job to look after you lot!!!!
Thank you so much for the kindness and support you show me, especially when I get things wrong or could have done better, it really does make a difference.
And not only am I lucky to live in such an amazing community, I take the most insane amount of pleasure from being part of the best team in the world. It take much much more than I could ever achieve alone to support all the people who turn to their MP for help or use all the tools an MP has up there in parliament – I’m truly blessed to have the most amazing people who care as much as I do about serving and supporting and representing our residents. So thank you team and volunteers, you’re amazing!
I’m heading off to spend Christmas with some lovely friends that I don’t get to see often enough. It’ll be fun and restful. I really hope you are able to relax over the break too.
Next year will present us with some unprecedented challenges. My only resolution for the New Year will be to give you the biggest, strongest, and most effective voice I can as these gargantuan decisions are made, and do everything I can to shape them on your behalf.
Whenever I face those moments of terror or intimidation in this job (like speaking in a noisy Commons!) I always remind myself that people in Hove chose to did something different by electing me against the odds in 2015 and then again two year later with even more support. It doesn’t change the fact that there are moments when my knees are knocking with nerves, but I promise you it gives me the strength and determination to get to my feet, stuck-in, and never, ever, shy away from confronting the people who use power to divide us or fear as a political tool. We see this too often these days and if it doesn’t end I really worry for the health of our democracy and society.
So thank you on behalf of the whole team here, I truly wish you the best of Christmases and a restful, happy break.
Merry Christmas, Peter