IN this week’s column, Warrington North Labour MP Charlotte Nichols discusses public services.

As we come to the end of another turbulent year, I continue to hear how difficult many people are finding things, with the soaring cost of living and the bitter weather driving people into the misery of simply trying to afford to eat and stay warm. These remain at the forefront of my mind as I press the government to do more to help.

While we face the prospect of a bleak winter, I’d like to take this opportunity to propose some New Year’s resolutions for the government for 2023. After all, they have changed their leaders and their policies so frequently this year that I’m sure they would appreciate some fresh suggestions.

Firstly they should stop wasting public money. With times so tough this is more important than ever. The never-ending scandals of billions for PPE either being written off on useless equipment or handed over to unqualified cronies are breathtaking. Further billions have been squandered as fraud that was written off – as the Fraud Minister announced when he resigned in January, blaming "a combination of arrogance, indolence and ignorance".

Even now, taxpayers are continuing to fund hundreds of thousands of pounds for Boris Johnson’s Partygate legal fees, while we hear that Ministers are insisting on unnecessary journeys by private plane – the public deserve better.

The plane journeys reveal that the government’s commitment to tackling climate change remains skin deep, and changing this should be their second resolution. We have seen extremes of hot and cold weather this year along with flooding – we cannot afford inaction over the environment.

Instead the government subsidises burning imported forests, has allowed sewage to pour into our rivers and has just approved the first new coal mine in the UK in decades. They should instead be pressing ahead with clean energy, including the new generation of nuclear.

Our public services are falling apart and need investment, including patching up our schools and the new Warrington Hospital that we have been awaiting for so long. We need an early commitment for this.

Of course our public services can’t function without dedicated staff, who have suffered austerity for a decade and are understandably striking now in many cases for pay that doesn’t further erode their standard of living. I back their efforts and the government should commit to serious negotiations to properly address the needs of our nurses, posties, railway staff and so many more.

In parliament we have seen far too many gross instances of unacceptable behaviour and misconduct, including sexual assault. The government Whips know the details of who is not safe and should be taking action. We need to clean up Westminster.

I think that these are reasonable resolutions that any government should be making. If the Conservatives will not, then they should make one resolution above all others: an early election so they can be replaced by a government that will.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my constituents a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas and New Year, as well as sending support and good wishes to the people of Ukraine and others around the world who face violence and injustice.