Buckinghamshire MPs reveal Christmas messages for 2023

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After a busy year across the county and in Westminster, the politicians have now revealed their Christmas messages.

From wishing residents well to reflecting on their careers to discussing world peace, here is what they said:

Steve Baker, MP for Wycombe

As we look forward to Christmas, there are many things we can be thankful for. Not all is doom and gloom.

We have a growing economy, a record number of employees on payroll, inflation is down, and the Government is committed to making Britain the best place in the world to do business.

Locally, we have seen the Council use extra Government money to repair our roads and pavements and potholes are fast disappearing.

There are record amounts of funding for schools in Wycombe and recent international scores show UK pupils have improved standards in reading, maths and science.

One of the messages of Christmas is peace on Earth. The UK is a strong defender of democracy abroad, but there is no doubt we still need to find a solution to bring peace to the Middle East. This is something we can all hope and pray for in the days ahead.

I know this can be a difficult time for some, especially those who are without loved ones: I send my best wishes to all Bucks Free Press readers for a happy Christmas.

Sarah Green, MP for Chesham and Amersham

This year seems to have flown past, and suddenly Christmas is upon us. For those celebrating, I hope you feel that you are almost ready for it!

At this time of year, I love to see the twinkling decorations brightening our homes, and lighting up our towns and villages.

I suspect most families have their own Christmas traditions; I particularly enjoy making my own Christmas wreaths and sourcing all the foliage, holly, ivy and berries locally.

Christmas is of course a chance to spend valued time with the people we love and care about. It also acts as a fabulous representation of what makes our local communities so special.

From carol services to Christmas markets, plays, parties and festivals, all of our communities will be doing something to celebrate the season.

I’m truly grateful to the organisers of these events as I know how much time and effort goes into them for the rest of us to enjoy.

Earlier this month I visited the Chiltern Toy Bank to hear about the charity’s efforts to distribute toys to nearly 480 children this Christmas.

It’s just one of a number of local organisations doing fantastic work to ensure those who need that extra bit of support get it.

I am also thinking of those having a more difficult Christmas. Perhaps facing loss, loneliness or some other struggle.

I send you my warmest wishes and hope that you still find some moments of cheer at this time, however fleeting. To everyone reading, I wish you all a merry Christmas.

Joy Morrissey, MP for Beaconsfield

As the year comes to an end and we enter the Christmas holiday season, I want to send everyone across Beaconsfield, Marlow, Gerrards Cross and the South Bucks villages my very best wishes.

I love this time of year, not least for the chance it gives me to spend time with my family, enjoy walks in our wonderful green spaces and reflect upon the year.

At a time when there is so much division across the world, Christmas provides a moment for us to come together with friends and family.

As your local MP, I am constantly inspired by the way our community comes together.  This year people came together, through the hard work of hundreds of volunteers, to celebrate the Coronation, to enjoy village fetes and many other occasions.

These events are what make Beaconsfield, Marlow, Gerrards Cross and the South Bucks villages such a special to live and why I will always be a passionate local champion for our area.

This Christmas that same community spirit will see many volunteers ensure company and food is provided to those people who would otherwise be alone. 

That spirit of service also is reflected in the work our emergency services and other critical services do over the holiday period to keep us safe and be there for those in need.  To all of you – thank you.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or other traditions, I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.

Rob Butler, MP for Aylesbury

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, enjoyed by so many of our local community. The tree and lights in Aylesbury town centre help get us in the festive spirit from the beginning of December.

This month also marks Small Business Saturday, and I hope as many residents as possible join me in buying Christmas gifts from our fantastic local shops and enjoy festive celebrations in Aylesbury’s superb restaurants and bars.

This time of year is also a great moment to support charities and other local organisations. The Christmas Fair at St Michael’s Church in Aston Clinton is always a personal highlight for me.

But whilst most of us can look forward to time with family and friends, rest and relaxation, tinsel and trees, I am always mindful of those working throughout the festive period.

This year I’ve met police, firefighters, nurses, doctors and members of the armed forces. Many of them will be on duty over Christmas, protecting and caring for us. I would like to thank them, and wish you all a very merry Christmas.

Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham

It’s been a hugely busy Christmas period, with wonderful events happening across the constituency.

It has been a pleasure to attend and take part in many of them, including the Princes Risborough Christmas lights switch on, The Lion in Waddesdon’s grotto event, Haddenham gingerbread festival and the Winslow Christmas Prime Stock Show. 

Likewise, as every year, I have been uplifted to see so many events taking place to ensure those who would otherwise be on their own this Christmas and our more vulnerable neighbours have enjoyed some festive cheer.

I was delighted to join volunteers to serve lunches to our senior citizens in both Steeple Claydon and Princes Risborough and I thank both the Prince of Wales pub in Steeple Claydon and Princes Risborough Rotary and Princes Risborough Town Council for making both of these events happen.

I know joyful events like this have happened across Buckinghamshire and I thank everyone who has put in so much hard work and effort to make them happen, especially those who have volunteered and raised funds. They make a real difference to so many.

Of course it is children for whom Christmas is most magical. I have seen the excitement in my own children’s eyes, from buying our family tree and enjoying the grotto at Penns Flowers in Longwick, to the pride I felt seeing my seven year old belt out his lines with aplomb in his school nativity.

And I thank all local children who entered my schools Christmas Card competition for their wonderful entries.

So whatever you are doing this Christmas – from Midnight Mass and Christmas morning church services, to family lunches, a pint (or two) down your local, trying to construct the most complicated toys and listening to His Majesty’s Christmas Day message – may I wish all constituents health, happiness and a very Merry Christmas. 

Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North

I want to wish all Bucks Free Press readers a very Merry Christmas, and hope you have a wonderful time with you family and friends over the festive period.

It’s now four years since I was elected in the election just before Christmas 2019 and so much has happened in that time that I would like to quickly reflect on.

There was no time to settle in as a first time MP with Brexit passed by the new year, before the awful impact of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and then COVID-19 early into 2020.

There have been lots of successes to celebrate in that time from securing a funding commitment from the Government for a brand new Women and Children’s Hospital in Milton Keynes to recruiting 784 new police officers for Thames Valley Police to opening two new Community Diagnostic Centres in CMK and Whitehouse to the new 22 bed ward for MK Hospital this winter, and much much more.

Now as we approach the end of the year I hope you all manage to find some time to unwind and spend time with loved ones, and of course check out some of the incredible Christmas lights displays in towns like Newport Pagnell and Stony Stratford. Merry Christmas everyone.

Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas. Every year I run a Christmas Card Competition, inviting pupils from schools across Milton Keynes to design the artwork that will go on the front of the Christmas Cards I send to my family and friends.

This year was no different as I welcomed designs reflecting on the following three themes: Festive Big Ben, Christmas at home and Santa Claus at a favourite Milton Keynes location.

I am delighted to announce the winner of this year’s competition is Vaishnavi from Abbeys Primary School. It was a pleasure to visit her at school to congratulate her on this achievement. I was able to deliver my first Christmas Card with Vaishnavi’s design to the Prime Minister.