MPs Share Their New Year’s Resolutions For 2025

New Year’s Eve Fireworks over Big Ben at Midnight

3 min read12 min

Parliamentarians across the political spectrum share their personal and political New Year’s resolutions with PoliticsHome.

Graeme Downie MP, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar said he had resolved “never to miss jerk chicken day at The Debate in Portcullis House.”

The jerk chicken regularly served up at Westminster’s canteens enjoys legendary status among MPs, staffers and journalists who work in the building. 

A diet of this venerated dish while delicious may warrant some exercise, however.

Many MPs struggle to find time to work out amid their packed schedules, despite Parliament’s well-equipped gym and the sports teams available to them.

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham told PoliticsHome: “My New Year’s resolution is to try and get out running a bit more as my schedule makes it incredibly difficult. It’s really important for my mental and physical wellbeing.”

Similarly, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston Preet Kaur Gill wanted to make more time for swimming and badminton with her kids. 

“I used to play with my kids and we loved it. It was about being active and it’s about spending quality time. Life seems to pass us by very very quickly and these moments, these memories that you make are something to really cherish, so I look forward to that.”

Chris Curtis, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North, just wanted to lower his caffeine intake (don’t we all) but wasn’t sure it would be doable due to calendar pressures. 

“I should probably drink less coffee. It’s very difficult in this job to not drink too much coffee with all the meetings I have to go to.”

Labour MP for Barnsley North Dan Jarvis had a simple aim for 2025: “The relentless pursuit of excellence.”

PoliticsHome will aspire to the same.

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said next year she wanted to become more aware of mental health problems in the workplace.

“Both in terms of being aware of the mental health of my colleagues but also as an employer. Ultimately as an MP, I want to be setting an example for anybody in the workplace.”

Her Liberal Democrat colleague Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, was also focused on health heading into 2025.

“I really want to see the Government devolve health services back to the community. My resolution is to hold their feet to the fire, this is too important to not get right.”

Bobby Dean, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, joined the chorus of Lib Dems with health in their sights in 2025.

He just wanted to “save A&E services at my local hospital.”

The Green Party co-leader and MP for Bristol Central Carla Denyer said that in 2025 she wanted “to keep on making the case for rent controls to tackle the housing affordability crisis (watch this space for more from me on this in the New Year)”.

Finally, former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell, the Tory MP for Sutton Coldfield, was determined to see a “resurgent Conservative Party with the right policies to win back the support of those we have lost and sweep aside as soon as possible this cynical, ineffective, duplicitous Labour Government…

“… and for the heating in my office to work and the windows fixed.”

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