I'm writing to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who stood, and voted, in this year's General Election in Surrey Heath. Democracy is a precious thing, and I am grateful to the other candidates who stood for the positive campaigns they ran and also to their supporters - and to the team at Surrey Heath Borough Council for making sure the Election ran smoothly.
I also want to thank all those who were kind enough to vote for me. I will do all I can not to let you down.
And, in particular, I want to thank my campaign team. We recorded an outstanding result in Surrey Heath, and it was the consequence of a united team effort.
Surrey Heath Conservatives secured the highest vote in Surrey at 64.2%. The next highest was Mole Valley with 61.9%.
We secured the highest number of votes for any candidate in Surrey - 37,118 - and the biggest majority - 24,943.
This great General Election result came after outstanding County Council Election results. The Conservatives won all six of the County Council seats in Surrey Heath Borough. And we won both the County Council seats in Guildford Borough Council which have voters in Surrey Heath parliamentary constituency - Ash and Shalford.
These successes reflect years of hard work on the part of our dedicated team in local Government. I am grateful to them for all their dedicated public service.
On a personal level, I was delighted to be asked by the Prime Minister to join the Government as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Having campaigned on the environment and quality-of- life issues during the General Election, it is a privilege to be charged with improving our natural environment so we can hand it on in a better state to the next generation.
I will, however, of course continue to be your servant first and foremost, standing up for the people of Surrey Heath. As well as my regular surgeries, where constituents can meet me in confidence to discuss how I can help, I will be holding open forums in cafés, community centres and pubs across the constituency in coming weeks and months so that anyone can pop by to ask questions or request my help in resolving problems.
Details of these - and how to book a private appointment - will be posted here. And if you'd like me to visit your school, hospital, community group or place of work, then do please email me on [email protected], and I'd be delighted to see you.
Thank you all again.
Michael