I would like to wish everyone in Wyre Forest a very Happy New Year for 2010.The Labour Government is fully committed to defending communities in the recession and is working hard to protect families through active polices of intervention to help maintain investment in public services.

This is very apparent in Wyre Forest which has received record investment in our schools re-building programme costing £180 million and our local NHS in Kidderminster Hospital and Primary Care Units.

The banks are working with government to ensure businesses remain profitable and employment remains stable. Indeed government has taken a controlling interest in several banks to protect jobs, investment and services. Our policies are not supported by the other parties who continually vote against this investment and financial strategy on Budget Day. Their attitude is always to talk the economy and Britain down. They would make severe cuts to jobs, services and benefits. But they refuse to be specific, except in the Tories case - they say their cuts would be severe and start right now.

In 2010 I would like to see a resolution of the issues raised at Copenhagen. International action and agreement is required as a priority. We desperately need to develop and implement new energy sources and stop cutting down forests and destroying natural habitats. Current levels of petrol motor vehicles are not sustainable. Improved public transport has to be introduced. And industry has to go green.

In Wyre Forest the political choice is clear. We have a single issue MP whose issue has been dropped (re-introduction of A&E at Kidderminster Hospital) and a Tory who would certainly be loyalist to Cameron and his cuts, and no doubt vote to repeal legislation to reintroduce hunting with dogs, a policy which I totally oppose.

Gordon Brown offers leadership to combat the recession and defend jobs and services in Wyre Forest. The choice is indeed clear. Put people before profit and vote Labour when the General Election is called in a few months time.

The people will decide and local Labour is extremely optimistic about our prospects with December's by-election victory over the Tories and Health Concern in Stourport, the best indication yet that Labour can indeed win in Wyre Forest.