May 6 candidates thank their voters

Published: 13 May, 2010

CHRIS PHILIP
• I’D like to thank the 17,290 neighbours who voted for me.
It is very touching to have won the trust of so many people. I’d also like to thank from the bottom of my heart the literally hundreds of volunteers who gave their time so freely to  the campaign. Their dedication, in all weather and at virtually all times of day and night, are something I will never forget.
The result here was the closest on the mainland UK. I lost to Glenda Jackson by just 42 votes, out of 53,000 cast.
The Lib Dems trailed in third, despite all their pre-election claims.
It is obviously painful to have lost by such a tiny margin. Of course I’ve wondered “What if we’d done X differently?” or “What if fewer people had been taken in by the Lib Dem’s claims?”
But the result is now in. Nothing will change it, and I wish Glenda well for her sixth term in parliament.
Our neighbourhood is one of the most diverse in the country. I firmly believe that this is one of the most engaged communities in the country. I’m certainly looking forward to continuing to be an active part of it. If there is anything I can do to help our community in the coming months and years, I will be only too happy to do it.
Nationally, I don’t think that the hung parliament we now have is a very helpful outcome. Hopefully our political leaders will find a way of best serving the nation’s interests, and placing their own interests to one side. We’ll see how that develops.
Finally, there is one good thing about the election result locally here: for the first time in months, I’ve had time to go running on Hampstead Heath every single day since the result came in. And there isn’t much that beats that!
CHRIS PHILIP
Conservative candidate for Hampstead & Kilburn

ED FORDHAM
• A HUGE and heartfelt thank-you to the 16,491 local residents who gave me their vote on Thursday.
I was proud and honoured to have achieved so many votes and I’m extremely grateful.
On the night I gave my congratulations to Glenda Jackson and I do so again. She has an independence of spirit that reflects the ambitions of north west London.
I’d like to give my personal thanks to my agent Janet Grauberg and the chair of my campaign James King for their outstanding support and work.
That the constituency was so split between the three parties shows the diversity of opinion.
Finally I would like to thank all the Liberal Democrat councillors who were elected across Camden on Thursday. 
A truly terrible set of results for the Conservatives and while we suffered losses to Labour I’m proud that we have councillors in seven of the 18 wards still.
ED FORDHAM
Hampstead and Kilburn
Liberal Democrats
 
JOANNA SHAW
• THANK you to the New Journal for your comprehensive and rigorous coverage of the general election battle here in Holborn & St Pancras.
It contributed a great deal to the campaigns, as did the hustings event you organised in the awe-inspiring location of St Pancras station. Trying to answer questions as the Eurostars came in and out is something that will live with me forever!
Your ceaseless campaigning on the battle to keep the accident and emergency unit at the Whittington Hospital open was, I am sure, a major factor in the decision by the Labour government to secure its future.
I would also like to thank the 15,256 people who backed me last Thursday. I am truly grateful to all of them. As I said at the declaration on Friday morning, I have absolutely loved being the campaigner for our area. Since the Liberal Democrats chose me in February 2007 I have met thousands of people and knocked on thousands of doors. I have been touched by how warmly I have been welcomed, even by people who don’t agree with me!
Finally my congratulations to Frank Dobson on his victory. I am sure he will continue to work as hard as he always has for the residents of Holborn & St Pancras on the issues that matter to them.
JO SHAW
Liberal Democrat
Holborn & St Pancras

MAGNUS NIELSEN
• I SHOULD like to thank all those who supported me in the election but also I should like to congratulate Glenda Jackson for having narrowly secured her position as MP – for the time being, at least.
People admire their parliamentary representatives when they stand up against their own government on matters of principle.  
The voters of Hampstead and Kilburn were very well favoured in the choice of candidates that was presented to them. It is a shame that the present system does not afford the two runners-up a suitable outlet for their talents. This is a waste of ability and those who are considering electoral reform should address this problem. 
I shall continue to work for the advancement of the UK Independence Party within the constituency in order to score increasingly more favourable results in future elections – the next of which, I dare say, will be upon us in six or 12 months’ time.
MAGNUS NIELSON
UKIP Parliamentary Candidate Hampstead and Kilburn