Just over 160 years ago Tennyson published a poem which has become something of a staple for many at this time of year.

The end of an old year can leave matters unfinished and setting New Year resolutions gives us the chance to ensure that the most important of these are not forgotten in the period ahead. I suspect that many people have a long list of issues that they would like the coalition Government to have attended to during 2012 but according to Bismarck, politics is the art of the possible. It may not be ambitious to call on people to simply fulfil their existing promises but nevertheless I think this suggestion is one thing we could ask our MPs to do. It will not even cost the Government any money and yet it will help many 100’s or 1000’s of charities across the UK at a critical moment for the sector.

As part of the planning for the Olympics, and to help fund the various events, £425M was extracted from the Big Lottery, diverting the money from good causes. At the time this was far from popular, but nevertheless the decision was taken by our elected representatives. However a firm commitment was made to return this afterwards. It is clear that now would be an excellent moment to do so with many charities expressing a fear of closure during 2013. MP for Coventry South, Jim Cunningham tabled Early Day Motion 747 on 20th November to call on the Government to return the sum of £377M which is currently held in Government reserves. It is very concerning that over a month later so few MPs have signed the motion and not a single one of the 16 Sussex MPs.

I know that some of our local MPs do not as a matter of course support EDMs or are prevented from signing them for reasons of protocol so my suggestion is that if this is the case that they write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor expressing their desire for the funds (or at least the £377M) to be returned to the Big Lottery before the end of January with a clear timetable to return the balance thereafter. Alternatively perhaps they could explain why they do not support this course of action. I would be happy to publish any letters sent to me on this site.

One of our local MPs, Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove was so pleased with the success of 2012 that he suggested that Eric Pickles authorise flags to be flown outside all public buildings to celebrate. I previously gave my own reaction to his idea here. Repaying this loan to the Lottery would have a great deal more impact than the flying of a few flags as well as being cost neutral.