I WOULD like to thank all the residents of North Herefordshire who voted for me in the General Election last Thursday.

I was delighted to increase the Labour vote from 3373 in 2010 to 5478 in 2015 and increase our share of the vote from 7 per cent to 11 per cent.

Over the last six months I have enjoyed returning to my rural roots. I’d like to thank all the residents who talked to me on the doorstep, put up posters and delivered leaflets for me; Labour Party members who ran my campaign; and voluntary organisations and businesses who took time out of their busy days to meet me.

I would also like to thank the organisers of the hustings in Leominster, Bromyard, Colwall, Kington, Ledbury and Lady Hawkins School. Hustings meetings are ‘democracy in action’: it was great to have the opportunity to debate major issues such as the NHS, Europe and Trident with fellow candidates and members of the public.

The Hereford Times have given excellent coverage to all candidates with the weekly columns on major issues.

The General Election result was bad for Labour. I joined the Labour Party because I want people to do well in life, to be successful and achieve their ambitions, whilst living in a society that is fair and protects the most vulnerable. Clearly we did not do enough to persuade voters that we shared their aspirations for them and their families.

The Labour Party will recover and come back stronger: after a bad defeat in 1992 we won by a landslide in 1997. If you would like to join the Labour Party, you will receive a warm welcome. It’s easy to join at www.labour.org.uk.

But I am fearful for the future under a Tory Government that is committed to further cuts in public spending.

During the election I met people with learning disabilities. At the end of our meeting I asked them what would make the most difference to their lives. The answer was that they did not want to be seen as ‘benefit scroungers’.

I spent time at the HOPE Centre in Bromyard, who do very valuable work with families with young children, who have had significant cuts in funding from Herefordshire County Council.

And then there is the EU referendum: leaving the EU would be a disaster for farmers, for businesses that export to the EU and tourism.

It has been a great privilege to be the Labour candidate in North Herefordshire and to have raised the profile of the Labour Party across the constituency.

SALLY PRENTICE

Labour Candidate for North Herefordshire