I WOULD like to wish a very happy new year to all the staff and readers of the Harrow Times. I hope that everyone had a very enjoyable Christmas and that 2008 brings health and happiness to everyone and their families.

For me, despite being on duty for much of the Christmas period, it was a very quiet, relaxing and rewarding time mixing work in the constituency with the enjoyment of time spent with family and friends - with little going on in terms of domestic politics.

Things were, however, very busy on the international front - with the tragedy of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the ensuing unrest in Pakistan; the appalling aftermath of the elections in Kenya; with Bangladesh still struggling after horrendous floods and bombs in North Africa and our service personnel still performing heroically in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is easy to forget in the comfort of one's home and family over Christmas that so much is going on in the world and that so many face danger and threat - sometimes natural and sometimes man-made. My thoughts and prayers go out to all in such danger - and I hope that all those in Harrow that are in some way touched by these events that seem so far off understand that we are all one community and we share each others' grief and pain.

We know that the world is forever shrinking and that events in one part of the world can impact on us - and that we all share a common humanity.

The one thing that unites us is a concern that all should have the freedom to live as we do and that all have the right to live free from fear, danger and threat. It is a difficult job, not only to represent everyone in Harrow East to the best of my ability, but also to ensure that the country is free from fear, danger and threat and in this role I have nothing but the highest regard for those in the forces, the security services and, above all, the police who put themselves in harm's way on a daily basis, week in and week out, to protect the rest of us and ensure our safety and liberty.

My role as Harrow East MP and as Security and Police Minister means I get to see and work with these unsung heroes every single day - and to them I wish a very special happy new year and salute them.