Rob Wilson's Westminster Diary, January 5, 2012
Rob Wilson MP • Published 6 Jan 2012 18:59
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HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Chronicle readers and indeed everybody else. I hope this year proves to be a great one!
Despite all the gloom surrounding the Eurozone economic crisis, this could be a fantastic year for Great Britain because we are about to be the centre of world attention!
Yes it's The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the biggest opportunity in generations to showcase what a fantastic country we live in and that we can still organise and deliver the world's biggest and best events.
With this in mind, it was important to start 2012 well, and we did it brilliantly with a breathtaking firework display in central London that will have sent a message around the world that Great Britain means business.
I'm fortunate to work alongside Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State at Culture, Media and Sport), so I am able to see at close quarters all the preparation and effort that is going into making this year a great success. For example, many people are not yet aware of the massive effort going into tourism, with significant campaigns going on around the world to bring 4.5million additional visitors with all the economic benefit that will bring with it. We also hope to persuade more people than ever to take breaks in the UK this year so that more people spend money in tourist locations here. We are determined that all parts of the country will benefit, and not just London.
I am particularly excited about the Olympics, and of course Reading is in prime position to do well. I was delighted to see that my campaign to bring the Olympic Torch (started back in 2006) ended with Reading as one of its overnight stops! This will be an event in which everyone in the town can get involved. But, of course, Reading may well be a city by then and that could be a very big recognition for us in 2012.
I don't make new year resolutions, but I do try to set myself targets. Over my years as MP I've set myself certain projects to deliver on, for example the money to upgrade Reading Station was a big one and last year it was to get the support, money and go ahead for a new school in east Reading. This year I want to make substantial progress on the Heathrow rail link because this will cement Reading's economic position for decades to come.
Please let me know what projects you think would make a difference to Reading or the UK, I'm keen to hear from you in what will be a very exciting year.
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