As we turn the page on 2025 and look ahead to the promise of 2026, I want to begin with a simple thank you. Public service is a team sport, and nothing we achieve in Hampshire happens because of one person, one department, or one council chamber speech.
It happens because residents, volunteers, community groups, officers, councillors, and countless unsung heroes quietly get on with the business of making our county a better place to live. If there’s a theme that has run through this past year, it’s that Hampshire works best when Hampshire works together.
And what a year it has been. We’ve opened new school places, expanded support for children with special educational needs, and continued the long, patient work of improving the services families rely on. We’ve pushed forward on infrastructure—sometimes celebrated, sometimes cursed when it involves roadworks—but always with the aim of keeping our county moving. Best illustrated by the fantastic work ongoing at the moment to build the new underpass at Junction 10 of the M27 in Fareham. Standing watching the work earlier this week was a reminder that progress is rarely glamorous, but it is always worth it.
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Of course, 2025 wasn’t without its challenges. Local government continues to face financial pressures that would make even the most seasoned accountant reach for a strong drink. Yet despite the strain, we’ve kept our focus on what matters: delivering essential services, protecting the vulnerable, and planning responsibly for the future. Hampshire has a long tradition of resilience, and this year proved once again that we don’t shy away from difficult decisions when they are the right ones.
As we step into 2026, I’m hopeful—not because the challenges have vanished, but because our capacity to meet them has never been stronger. We will continue to push for sustainable funding for local government, because residents deserve services that are secure, reliable, and fit for the future. We will keep investing in the infrastructure that underpins daily life. And we will carry on championing the values that make Hampshire a place people are proud to call home.
But perhaps most importantly, we will do all this together. At a time when national and global debates can feel increasingly polarised, and as we enter what I very much hope is an election year for the county council, it is worth restating something I have said many times: no one enters politics to do harm; we simply disagree about how we should do good. That belief has guided me throughout my years in public life, and it remains the foundation of how I try to lead—collegiately, respectfully, and with a sense of humour whenever possible. (If you’ve ever tried explaining local government reorganisation and devolution on Facebook, you’ll know humour is sometimes essential.)
Division is easy. Unity takes work. But Hampshire has never been afraid of hard work. In 2026, let’s continue to choose cooperation over conflict, shared purpose over point-scoring, and kindness over cynicism. If we do that, I’m confident the year ahead will bring not just progress, but pride.
Thank you for your support, your patience, your ideas, and your commitment to our county. I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, healthy, and hopeful New Year
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