L AST week George Osborne was voted The Times Person of the Year 2013. Now, I’m not so insensitive not to realise this is unlikely to be a cause of endless celebration for some. But the award came on the same day the Centre for Economic and Business Re - search, predicted the UK economy would be the biggest in Europe within 15 years.

The CEBR based its predictions on three main things: our low taxes in the UK, our independent currency, and population growth. We can cer - tainly thank George Osborne for low taxes – especially as he has re - duced taxes in the howling gale of Labour criticism.

Staying out of the Euro has always been a core Conservative policy, but in this season of goodwill I think it is fair to applaud Gordon Brown for resisting the vast majority of his party and stay out of the Euro. Had he listened to Labour policy when chancellor, our economy and pub - lic finances would have been in an even more dire mess.

And on population growth, whilst it is well known that immigration helps economic activity, we are all well aware how fearful people are of wel - coming immigrants to these shores.

But there is a real reason why George Osborne is Person of the Year. He has had to tackle an un - precedented crisis of both banking inspired economic slowdown and a legacy of appallingly managed pub - lic finances.

As we start 2014, it is worth look - ing at some of his achievements: There are more jobs in the UK than ever before – the private sector has more than made up for shrinking in the public sector with more than 1.1 million new jobs; the economy is re - covering faster than any other ma - ture economy.

By cutting Labour’s planned fuel duty rises, filling up your car is 20p cheaper than it would have been.

Households have been helped by freezing council taxes and increas - ing tax free allowances – 25 million people are better off.

My job is to make absolutely certain Wyre Forest keeps up with the recovery. Unemployment is the lowest it has been since before I was elected and just a quick drive around our district shows that there is a lot of building going on – a sure sign that we are not being left be - hind.

CONTACT YOUR MP

  • Email: mark.garnier.mp@parliament.uk
  • Telephone: 020 7219 7198 or 01562 746771
  • Write: 9a Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6UU, or House of Commons, Westminster, London