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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

27 December 2007

The end of the year is always a time for looking back – and forward.

Looking back comes first.

2007 was a vital year for Shepway. The momentum behind the regeneration of our area was sustained and indeed increased. We saw, at last, the opening of the long-awaited Folkestone Shopping Centre, the heart of the town centre’s redevelopment. Work and progress have continued apace on the Creative Quarter and on the University Centre – which is to be opened early in January.

Politically, too, it was an important year. Voters elected a District Council with a clear Conservative majority which means clear accountability for the decisions taken, something which is always difficult to achieve with a coalition, either nationally or locally.

Nationally, of course, it was also a very significant year – in particular, we had a new Prime Minister. After a few short weeks in which he enjoyed a brief honeymoon with voters and the media, Gordon Brown has found it difficult to cope with the burdens of his new job – something which some of us who know him quite well had always expected.

The Liberal Democrats, too, have changed their leader following Menzies Campbell’s decision to step down after criticism of his age. I had some sympathy with him since he and I are almost exactly the same age. On the other hand, I saw this coming which was one of the reasons I decided to hand over the leadership of my party after the last general Election.

As I write my successor, David Cameron, is doing very well and making great progress, although I am conscious that a week is a very long time in politics.

But I don’t expect the political scene to change very much next year. You can remind me of this prediction if I get it wrong!

For the moment Sandra and I wish you all a very happy 2008.