A SINCERE and heartfelt thank you to the 1,110 people who voted for me in the local election, and grateful thanks to those 4,477 people who voted for me in the General Election.

They were not wasted votes or intentions, but an indication that we can be different and our country can support a liberal, open-minded community. Together we will work towards that community, that cares and supports each other as opposed to the current divisive one.

I’d like to say that I really appreciate the many encouraging and affirming comments, emails and phone calls, stating that I did do a good job for the community for over a decade and a half.

Do I look back in anger? No, because now my party is growing exponentially. We have had new members join daily since polling day, in fact over 10 times the number of votes I received in the local election and still rising.

This is in direct contrast to another party who seem intent on losing the thinking public's faith.

The media were critical of the Liberal Democrats when in Parliament, but now are coming clean about what actually happened.

We prevented the Tories passing the “Snoopers Charter” (prying into your private business), scrapping the human rights act (i.e preventing people in social care being treated less respectfully), slashing subsidies for offshore wind farms and green energy supplies and reducing worker’s rights.

The new Conservative Government admits now that they don't know where the £12bn cuts from welfare are going to come, because they haven't managed to work it out yet.

Locally and nationally the Tories will now have to make and take responsibility for their own decisions and actions.

For me, my plans are to continue to support the local residents, my Liberal Democrat Party and my colleagues.

In other words business as usual but as an onlooker I'll see more of the game, and I look forward to a new era.

Hazel Thorpe

High Street,

Tarring