Thank you to everyone who voted in the election last week.
Thank you, also, if you voted Conservative, and most especially thank you if you were one of the 17,361 who voted for me in Earley and Woodley. I was truly touched and humbled to receive such tremendous support.
I have enjoyed meeting and talking to people across the constituency during the campaign, as well as helping residents with issues answering questions and attending hustings.
We spoke to over 15,000 people in Earley, Woodley, Sonning and Reading, during the campaign, walked many miles and responded to hundreds of emails from residents.
On the night I lost to Labour by 848 votes, which was a very close margin.
I want the best for our country, so I sincerely wish all new MPs and the new Labour Government well.
Looking forward, I continue representing residents on the Council, with Council meetings last week and a busy schedule ahead.
The Conservative Group is continuing to work hard for residents, listening to you, and holding the ruling group to account on your behalf.
From this Summer, your weekly bin collection will move to fortnightly, and we are expecting the publication of the Liberal Democrat’s long awaited Local Plan.
Planning is a key concern locally. The new Government has come to power with plans to change planning rules, build more, including on the Green Belt and ignore local concerns. They have even promised to back builders, i.e. developers.
I want to see our local area retain its mix of small towns and semi-rural villages. I also believe that there should be greater opportunities including jobs across the country so that there isn’t such a pressure to build in the South East.
This area is my home. I care passionately about it and everybody who lives here.
Around the world, democracy is sadly under threat and it is important that we don’t take hard-won freedoms for granted.
Nationally turnout was 59.9%, down from 67.3% at the 2019 election, this was the lowest turnout at a general election since 2001.
In Earley and Woodley and Wokingham constituencies, I am pleased that turnout was higher than the national rate, but it was still low compared to 2019.
Across the Borough, a number of people have settled here fleeing authoritarian regimes across the world, particularly from Ukraine and Hong Kong. Democracy is a wonderful thing and one that should be cherished.
If you stayed up to watch the election coverage you might have caught Jeremy Hunt’s speech which put it very well:
“We are incredibly lucky to live in a country where decisions like this are made not by bombs or bullets but by thousands of ordinary citizens peacefully writing a cross on a bit of paper. Brave Ukrainians are dying every day to defend their right to do what we did yesterday so we must never take it for granted.”
I look forward to being back out campaigning for you again soon.
By Pauline Jorgensen
