I hope 2004 will see us successfully meeting the challenges that made 2003 such a turbulent year.

Globally, for all the progress that has been made, billions continue to live in conditions of unacceptable and avoidable deprivation and poverty.

For moral and practical reasons, I hope we can work together to change that and we will see real progress on world trade talks to produce sustainable development for the world's poorest countries.

This year ended with good news of the capture of Saddam Hussein and Libya's commitment to non-proliferation and I hope 2004 will see more and more people enjoying liberty and democracy, free of the fear of tyranny and international terrorism.

At home, I hope the economy will continue to achieve the steady growth that is so important in building the successful country we all want to see. In Swindon, I hope we will see real progress made in containing the antisocial behaviour that makes the lives of so many of my constituents so miserable.

I also hope our local services of health and education will continue to improve.

I hope everyone in Swindon has a happy and fulfilling year.