THIS?year will be remembered for some dramatic political events – the UK’s decision to leave the EU, Donald Trump winning the US presidential election, and populist votes in other countries that are challenging the status quo.

It’s easy to think – and possibly fear – that we’re living in extraordinary times, but history tells us that shifts in the political landscape are part and parcel of democracy. History also tells us that economic progress seldom moves in a straight line, but ebbs and flows with those political shifts.

Memories from a 1970s childhood will recall regular power cuts, frequent strikes and rampant inflation. And the 1980s brought a daily diet of sharply opposing views: from left and right, monetarism and Keynes, the Americans and the Soviets.

Then many things seemed to go right. A period of reconciliation with arms laid down in Northern Ireland, the end of Apartheid and the fall of the Berlin wall. A new economic consensus and, in many respects, a political consensus too.

But a lack of fiscal discipline from around the turn of the millennium meant we were living far beyond our means; brutally exposed by the financial crash of 2007/8. And the tragic events of 9/11 reminded all of us that extreme ideologies remain a very real threat to our way of life.

It is true that we’re facing a period of particular uncertainty at the moment, with a mistrust of established leadership, greater polarisation and divisiveness, and an uncomfortable cocktail of global issues.

And just as we enjoy an increasingly dynamic and inter-connected media world, there is a weariness of attention-grabbing headlines and soundbites, which often dominates dialogue in a way that makes it hard to see the progress being made all around us.

So, as we make plans to leave the EU and prepare for the change that will bring, it’s important to take stock and reflect on the gains we’ve made and the lives that have been improved by that progress.

We end 2016 with unemployment continuing to run at a 10-year low, a record number of people in work and average wages having grown by 2.6 per cent over the last year.

Since 2010, people across the UK have gained from cuts in income tax, had a pay rise from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, benefited from the start of the National Living Wage, and begun one of the three million-odd new apprenticeships.

Real progress has been made and will continue to be made. And this matters as we need a strong and healthy economy to pay for the services we rely on every day. It matters for individuals and it matters for our economic outlook.

We have a wealth of skills in this country and a business environment that fosters innovation and enterprise, and this continues to attract companies from right across the world to invest in Britain.

We can remain confident in looking outward – we’re a significant part of the global economy and have much to offer our inter-dependent world. There are challenges ahead but also great opportunities; much for us to look forward to.

Catching the headlines can often fill us with doom and gloom, but the underlying story is often more balanced and informed. As we head into 2017, we should feel good about the progress that has been made and determined about tackling the issues that remain in front of us.

And during this season of goodwill, I know many will be looking out for those in our communities that need that extra bit of support, and I would like to take this opportunity to commend you for the help you give to others, particularly at this time of year.

I wish everyone a joyful New Year.

Damian Hinds

East Hampshire MP?& Minister of Employment at the Department of Work and Pensions