On behalf of the whole LCID executive committee, I’d like to wish all our supporters and members a Happy New Year!

2013 has been an incredible year for LCID, with a record number of blogs, tweets, events and members. The year was crowned in September by our formal affiliation to the Labour Party, a platform we intend to use next year to have even more impact on the direction and priorities of the Party as we head towards the General Election.

Now in 2014, watch this space for a raft of new activities, events, and ways to get involved. We’ll be working with the shadow development team to help shape Labour’s policy and manifesto commitments, supporting our PPCs up and down the country, and providing a space within the movement for people to get together who care about and work in development.

Finally, as events go from bad to worse in both South Sudan and CAR, I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing all the best to the citizens of both countries, and to people in conflict-affected places around the world. For many people Christmas – and it’s promise of peace and goodwill on Earth- has represented a bitter irony. We hope that 2014 brings with it peace, justice, and greater prosperity for our brothers and sisters all over the world.

Claire Leigh, Chair, Labour Campaign for International Development