This week, I’m involved in more talks in Belfast with Stormont politicians.

As I write, they’ve been going on for ten weeks now and may well run until Christmas Eve.

The Troubles may be over, but the two communities in Northern Ireland are not yet reconciled.

I hope this week will bring up a step closer to a truly shared future and normality in a part of the UK that has had more than its fair share of sorrows.

The Financial Conduct Authority is reviewing bankers’ bonuses and has formed the view that they are inappropriate where the institution concerned has been fined for misconduct.

I worry that, while progress has been made, banking has not yet fully understood the need to regain the confidence of the people of this country.

Ever since the South Sea Bubble of the early 18th century, there has periodically been a need to recalibrate City practices and I fear we’re only part way through this particular turn of the handle.

The separation of high street “boring” banking from more speculative financial services will help, but, in my view, the FCA should pull no punches in 2015.

To be honest, I’m far from convinced that big bonuses are at all necessary for business success.

If a culture of eye-watering bonuses really attracted the best people, British banking would not have been left staring into the abyss.

And why, in financial services alone, seemingly, is it thought that people will only work hard if massive bonuses are dangled before them?

The UK is heavily dependent on the financial services sector and the Government fights hard to retain its pre-eminence in a fiercely competitive global market.

Let us hope it regains its reputation at home in 2015.

It’s been a pleasure to attend Christmas events across my constituency.

It was especially good to be the lunch guest of the Trowbridge White Ensign Association, an organisation that I’m proud to be patron of.

My constituency is practically perfect, save for the fact that it does not have a coastline. Despite this, there are a large number of ex-sailors and Royal Marines locally and I always enjoy their company.