As we come to the close of the year, I suspect that there are few people sad to see the end of 2020. It has inflicted upon us unprecedented difficulties, unparalleled by any other event in our nation’s post-war history.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, however, we have shown the qualities that make us all proud of this country and which offer hope for the future.

Our health and social care workers have continued to offer first-class care to the most vulnerable; by keeping schools open, teachers have continued to educate our children; and essential workers have kept our shops stocked with food, streets safe and transport going.

Most welcome of all, in a testament to the quality of British science, not only did the Oxford/AstraZeneca partnership produce one of the early breakthroughs in the search for a vaccine, but Britain became the first country to authorise one.

At no point during this year has the NHS been overwhelmed, and the hard work and devotion to duty of those who work in it, at considerable risk to many of them, have kept it functioning under this most extreme of pressures.

Away from the coronavirus front, we are only a matter of days away from finally leaving the transition arrangements, after our departure from the European Union earlier this year, fulfilling the promise solemnly made to the electorate in 2016; there have been some of the biggest investments in our police, with 6,000 new officers recruited on the way to the 20,000 promised by the end of the parliament, the NHS, with 14,000 more nurses since last year and a brand new hospital in North Devon already in design, defence, to create a renascence in naval shipbuilding, and in schools, in a generation; while the National Living Wage has been increased once more, supporting those on the lowest pay.

Locally, we have also seen some examples of very encouraging news. After over eighteen months of vigorous discussions with my cabinet colleagues, decision-makers in Whitehall, overseas customers and the industry, Appledore Shipyard opened its doors once more; the Okehampton to Exeter Railway line is to be reopened after decades to provide regular scheduled services to Exeter, Tavistock Minor Injuries unit began treating patients again; and the installation of superfast broadband is accelerating throughout Torridge and West Devon.

Our achievements throughout these demanding times should remind us of what we can achieve as country, through both our national and local efforts. Fresh challenges no doubt await us next year, but so do new opportunities with the coronavirus pandemic behind us.

As we, at Christmas, celebrate a moment of hope in the history of mankind, we can I believe begin to look forward with the same spirit of confidence and hope for the New Year.