2008 in pictures

2008 was another incredibly busy year.

Being a Parliamentary Candidate is a fascinating and challenging role. It's also something that needs to be fitted in around work and family life. It is unpaid and at times unforgiving. It eats into evenings, weekends and holidays. But it is incredibly rewarding, and I am thriving on the challenge.

This year I also started a new 'day' job, and of course we were kept busy with election preparations due to the speculation that Gordon Brown might finally decide that he is a democrat and give the British people people a chance to vote for him in a General Election. Sadly he didn't , and we are likely to face another 18 months of this government before we will finally have a Prime Minister that the people voted for!

Below is another selection of photographs chronicling some of my campaigning and activities over 2008. It is not an exhaustive list of my activities, but it should give you a flavour of what I have been up to. Hover your mouse over each picture for an explanation.

And I'm sure that 2009 will prove to be equally busy, as we prepare for the change that the country so badly needs.

January

Dan and his team launch their Crime Campaign by handing out Crime Prevention Packs to local shoppers

February

Dan Byles with Alan Duncan MP, visiting Baddesley Ensor sub-Postmaster Alan Bailey to discuss Government Post Office Cuts

Dan Byles with Polesworth sub-Postmaster Michael Knight, discussing innovative ways of keeping post offices open. Also present: North Warks mayor Wendy Smitten, local campaigner Gill Thomas and Cllr Peter Fowler.

Dan Byles with Shadow Health Minister Stephen O'Brien during a visit to the George Eliot Hospital to discuss recent successes in combating hospital-acquired infections.

March

The launch of the Commission on the Military Covenant - a panel of experts to advise David Cameron on how to repair the broken covenant with our Armed Forces. From left: Dan Byles, Freddie Forsyth, David Cameron, Simon Weston and Allan Vaughan.

Campaigning in Bedworth town centre on behalf of the Rachel Ward campaign.

Dan is joined in his campaign against crime and antisocial behaviour by Tory big-hitter Francis Maud MP and local shopkeeper Gerald Ingram.

April

Dan's campaign against a 50% cut in Citizen's Advice Bureau debt advisors in Atherstone is successful, with a last-minute reprieve.

May

In a stunning result, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council falls to the Conservatives for the first time in 34 years. David Cameron with Marcus Jones, Simon Rouse and Dan Byles in Nuneaton.

Dan Byles with Arley councillor Carol Fox and parish councillor Paul Reader, looking into residents' concerns over the dangerous state of the old WMC.

Dan Byles with Bedworth Conservative Councillor Damon Brown and local campaigner Ann Brown rallying support for local post offices.

June

A new threat to Post Offices. Dan Byles with Baddesley Ensore sub-Postmaster Alan Bailey, urging the Government to support the Post Office Card Account.

July

Dan Byles campaigns against cuts to local services: Post Offices, GPs' surgeries, rural schools and pubs are all facing cuts under Gordon Brown's policies.

Speaking at an angry public meeting over Post Office cuts at the Woodland Working Men's Club in Bedworth.

September

Dan Byles with retired Rifleman Jon Howarth, retired Major General Andrew Farquhar and Mr Steve Bishop at the Help for Heroes charity rugby match at Twickenham. This charity, which raises money to help wounded servicemen and -women really should need to exist.

Dan Byles with Freddie Forsyth and Falklands War Veteran Simon Weston, launching their report into the Broken Military Covenant.

Victory for Dan Byles and fellow local campaigners as a landmark court decision awards retired Gurkha soldier the right to remain in Britain after their years of failtful service.