Letter: Thank you - I am proud of what we have achieved

People have said to me it must be hard to lose by such a tight margin. Just 118 votes. And while we may have bucked the national trend in some ways; a loss is a loss, and the electorate is rarely wrong.

For all my supporters and backers – many of whom worked night and day for me – I just want to say how sorry I am for not being able to get us over the line.

To the new Labour MP, I want to congratulate him on his success and wish him all the very best. It is in Peterborough’s interests he succeeds.

I am proud of what we achieved together in my time as our MP. Over £125 million for our City that delivered our new University, will build a brand new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre offering up to 67,000 extra scans, checks and tests every year, and create a brand new Station Quarter offering hope to our City Centre, jobs and retail.

I have prided myself on being approachable, accessible, and visible for every community. This must continue.

The new MP has made a lot of promises around NHS dentists, a swimming pool and to the Muslim community on international issues.

And on this, I am sure he will be held to account.

While all the enormous posters with my face on them have been taken down, I am going nowhere. Peterborough has been my City since 1985.

I am not blind to our challenges, but our City is great.

Paul Bristow,Peterborough