MAY I thank those who voted for me in the election. Regrettably you are a small and select band.

Where the result leaves us is the subject of much crystal ball-gazing.

I am deeply demoralised, wondering whether there is a willingness among the British public to vote for a compassionate government.

For it to come to fruition, the progressive parties may need to work together rather than fight each other.

In retrospect it seems daft that I, an environmental campaigner for 25 years, should have been fighting this country’s one Green MP, and the Green vote in Kemptown almost certainly cost Labour the seat.

There was one positive feature of the campaign from my perspective.

Despite the view that politics is held in low repute, the reception on doorsteps was polite, even from those who weren’t voting for me.

Maybe we have been lulled into thinking that those who shout loudest are the majority, when that’s not always the case.

Chris Bowers, Lib Dem candidate, Brighton Pavilion