Big battles lie ahead following election- letters of thanks from Islington politicians

• I WOULD like to say a heartfelt thank-you for giving me the honour of continuing to represent you as your MP. My values are the Labour principles of equality, social justice and fairness – and my priorities are what matters to you. Over the past five years as MP, I have been guided by you. And in recent weeks I have spoken to people about the difference that politics can make.
I have met many of you who agree we desperately need more affordable housing, who believe as I do we must act faster and more radically on climate change and who supported my stand against Trident and detention without charge.
I have also been humbled by the hundreds of volunteers who gave up so much of their time to help our campaign. Many who had not been involved in politics before saw the choice we faced, and chose to work hard for a Labour win in Islington.
Nationally, Labour did not fare so well. But in Islington, the people did not pick a Liberal-Conservative government. As the new government starts to act, I will be there fighting our corner and standing up for what matters to Islington.
There will be big battles ahead – for our local health services, for investment in housing, for maintaining police numbers. Together, with a common goal in mind, we will make sure the views of Islington are not ignored.
EMILY THORNBERRY
Labour MP, Islington South and Finsbury

• I WOULD like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Islington for the huge support they showed to the Labour Party’s councillors and its two returned MPs.
The support you have shown us is a huge vindication for our priorities for the borough. We have already got down to work on how we will begin to make Islington a fairer borough, when we take office on Tuesday.
The result is also a vindication for our approach in the campaign. We said that, if we talked to enough people directly and listened to the issues that matter to them, then they would reward our efforts. That is what we did and turnout was up – especially in some of the poorest parts of the borough, where people are too often marginalised or disenfranchised.
It is our mission to create a fairer Islington and to stand up for the people who need a better chance in life. We extend the hand of friendship to people of all parties and none to join us on that quest.  
We live in a great borough and we are determined to make it even greater.
CLLR CATHERINE WEST
Labour group leader

• THANK-YOU to the tens of thousands of people who voted Liberal Democrat. Although we did not win, I am proud that more people voted Lib Dem than ever before.
I am proud of the positive campaign we ran: standing up for local post offices and health services; calling for fairer taxes, more local police, and real action on climate change. We remain the only alternative to Labour in Islington.
Thank-you also to the hundreds of volunteers who worked so hard on my campaign, and to our excellent council candidates. My only regret is that we did not get the victory their efforts deserved.
I congratulate Emily Thornberry on her re-election; in this new political era, I ask her to work with people of all parties and of none, in the interests of Islington.
Islington remains my home; I love the place, and the people, however they choose to vote. I will continue to serve our community in whatever way I can.
BRIDGET FOX
Liberal Democrat candidate, Islington South and Finsbury

• CAN I thank the people of Islington for voting last Thursday? Across the borough, the Conservatives substantially increased their share of the vote, almost doubling the number of votes from the previous election.
In the South constituency, we scored nearly 8,500 votes, with a huge swing from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives.
The results confirm that the established Lib-Lab, two-party system has well and truly come to an end in Islington. At future elections the real choice here is between Labour and the Conservatives.
RICHARD BUNTING
Chair, Islington Conservatives