I am disappointed with the results of the election, and I wish I was still your Member of Parliament.
Serving you has been a great honour and as a resident living in the Derbyshire Dales I sincerely hope Mr Whitby is up to the challenge and that he appreciates just how lucky he is to represent such a wonderful constituency.
I want to sincerely thank every single person who voted for me and my common-sense track record of getting things done. I am so grateful for the hundreds of emails of thanks I have received. During my time as your MP, I and my office responded to over 44,000 emails and I am heartened to know that I have actively helped so many residents. Derbyshire Dales is the most special place in the world and I have loved every single second of my time as your MP.
There is no denying that people felt let down by the Conservative government and I understand why, because at times I have shared their frustration. This being said, I am disappointed that locally people voted for a Reform candidate who had been disowned by Nigel Farage for racism and let in a Labour Member of Parliament.
I watch eagerly now to see how Mr Whitby will protect women-only spaces, tackle Bovine TB, continue my campaign for a Banking hub, maintain our traditions, work to prevent flooding, stop sewage in our rivers and continue with my work to hold water companies to account, protect our green spaces from overdevelopment and securing a Relief Road for Ashbourne.
I think some people hoped that I would disappear after this election, but I am sorry to disappoint them. Derbyshire is my home, I am here to stay, and Mr Whitby can look forward to me holding him to account as a resident of our area.