Aylesbury MP David Lidington writes:

Talk about a turbulent year! For me personally, it included watching one son take his degree and another leave home for his first year at university.

My government job changed. No walk up Downing Street though: I was at my son's graduation the day Theresa May appointed her Cabinet, so I became Leader of the Commons and Lord President of the Council in the unglamorous environment of car park at Northampton services on the M1.

Anyhow, no more pre-dawn dashes to Heathrow and instead me trying to get to grips with the Government's entire legislative programme.

And if you'd told me a year ago that before 2016 was out I would have deputised for the Prime Minister at PMQs, I'd have told you to pull my other leg!

Nationally, the EU referendum overturned what has been a core element of British policy for more than half a century. I campaigned strongly for the Remain side and haven't changed my view that Britain's security and prosperity would be greater if we stayed as members of the EU.

But although the referendum result was close, it was decisive and must be respected.

In my constituency, HS2, housing and development pressures, benefits, health and social care all featured in my mailbox. But the horror of what has been happening in Syria puts most of our day to day anxieties into a different perspective.

Advent not only has the best music in the hymnal but helps me to appreciate Christmas by offering a time for reflection.

The horror of Aleppo should both spur us to political and humanitarian action, and lead us to appreciate and be thankful for the blessings that we enjoy from living in a free and prosperous country.

I wish all readers of the BFP a happy and peaceful Christmas.