Happy New Year

Back from a much needed Christmas break, I would like to wish all readers a very happy 2008.

Personally I had a wonderful Christmas watching my family enjoy spending time with Alex (although this is technically his second Christmas it is the first he really appreciated as he was only four months old for the last one).

More generally, however, Christmas seems to have been marred by a general feeling of uncertainty. In Pakistan, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto may well prove to be the tipping point in the sad political history of recent years; in Kenya an apparently questionable presidential election has pushed the country close to civil war; and closer to home the flow of bad economic news is fueling the economic uncertainty of families whilst a spate of violent incidents has marred the festive season. I hope and pray that the new year will bring better fortune to all.

Politically, it is already clear that 2008 is going to be a year of upheaval at home and abroad - with a presidential election hotting up in the US and a London mayoral race in London. Gordon Brown will be looking for a change in fortune or else his backbenchers may start to look for a change of leadership. David Cameron will be looking to lock-in the Conservative Party's current high standing in the polls and Nick Clegg will be looking to make more of an impact than his predecessor.

Happy new year - it is going to be an interesting one!