As this is my last column before the Christmas break, and I want to take this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

It's been a tough year for many reasons as we emerge from the pandemic and have faced full-on the cost of living crisis.

And following years of suppressed pay, many workers are understandably frustrated and angry that, having made so many sacrifices, their pay increases are less than half of those of the average in the private sector and are organising strikes.

Now, for the first time in their history, we face nurses walking out with public support greatly in their favour.

Elsewhere, as you are all aware, various rail companies are striking on certain days this month and the action will run into the new year.

I fully understand that this impacts the services the rail companies can provide but have been alarmed by Chiltern Railway's decision to not run any services north of Banbury from 13 December for almost a whole month.

This decision badly affects our local stations Warwick, Warwick Parkway and Leamington, which will see no Chiltern trains running over this period, causing widespread disruption to our communities for almost four weeks despite only eight days of strikes taking place.

I know first-hand how important this service is locally – I use it every week to get to and from London and see how many others use the service to get where they need to be.

I've written to Chiltern to express my significant concern over this decision and asked them to reconsider this highly disruptive action.

Given the scale of the issues and the sense of betrayal and deep inequality felt by these workers, it's crucial the Government holds constructive talks with all parties involved to resolve the issues raised.

As with all industrial action taking place, nurses don't want to be on strike – they are committed to their patients and the care they provide.

Finally, as the year draws to a close, I want to encourage people across Warwick, Leamington, Whitnash and our villages to nominate someone who deserves recognition in my annual MP Awards which will be taking place in the new year.

It's so important we recognise those in our community who do so much and have the opportunity to thank them for all they do. If you'd like to nominate someone, please do so here.

Nominations close on 7 January so please do take some time over the Christmas break to consider if you could nominate someone.

Once again, may I wish you Seasons Greetings and hope you all have an enjoyable break. On behalf of all the community, thank you to all those who will be working over the break and keep our key services running.

My office will be closed from 23 December until 3 January but will still be able to deal with urgent issues so please do not hesitate to get in touch.