I was most surprised by the comments of Adam Trimingham on Nancy Platts and the General Election result in Brighton Kemptown.

Nancy ran a terrific campaign that won many new volunteers and supporters to the cause, including many who were not normal Labour Party supporters but who voted for Nancy on a personal basis.

Nationally in the General Election there was a swing to the Tories, but the reverse happened in Brighton Kemptown.

Nancy achieved a swing to the Labour Party by increasing the Labour vote by 2,849 from the 2010 General Election figure, and halving the existing majority.

It should also be noted that, contrary to the comments in your paper, Simon Kirby massively outspent Nancy in his campaign for re-election, as many who received so much of his literature would testify.

He also received notice that the Government was finally going to release the money set aside by the previous Labour Government for the Royal Sussex County hospital re-development, which in fact was announced just before the start of the General Election campaign.

Des Turner
MP for Brighton Kemptown 1997-2010