Dear Friends,

I wanted to write to you in the aftermath of one of the most interesting, toughest and uncertain elections ever.

First the result:

Glenda Jackson	Labour	17,332	32.8%
Chris Philp	Conservative	17,290	32.7%
Ed Fordham	Liberal Democrat	16,491	31.2%
Bea Campbell	Green	759	1.4%
Magnus Nielsen	UKIP	408	0.8%
Victoria Moore	BNP	328	0.6%
Tamsin Omond	The Commons	123	0.2%
Gene Alcantara	Independent	91	0.2%
Turnout	52,822	66.3%	+10.4%

                                                                     

It was tight, close – the words don’t convey just how nail-biting it felt at the Count.  No-one expected just 841 votes to separate all three parties locally and make this the closest election result in the country.

But I can say with total conviction I’m very proud of the 16,491 Liberal Democrat votes – more than we have ever achieved locally.  I’m also proud of the campaign we ran on a fair start for our children through new and better schools, for a serious and informed approach to climate change and a new and different type of MP. And I’m hugely grateful for the tireless work of my campaign team, the volunteers in the office and the deliverers across the constituency – everyone who visited commented on the energy and commitment of the team we assembled here.

One of the things that I am most proud of is the work I have done over many years now with the communities of North West London. This ranges from the established Jewish Communities, through the synagogues, social action hub, Moishe House and more, through to the much newer communities of Somalia, Eritrea and Kosovo.  I very much hope and intend to maintain and develop my own personal work on this front.

Without a doubt the element of the campaign of which I was most proud was the sheer range and diversity of support we drew in – Jew, Muslim, Christian, Atheist, Hindu and none. We managed to understand the whole constituency and make our appeal to everyone whether they are the wealthiest or the poorest.

There were all sort of odd noises off during the election.  In one week it was reported that I lived in Manchester (not true), that I was renting a flat here (not true), and that I was just out for personal gain (not true) and while it’s all part of the knock-about of the political discussion it still feels incredibly personal.

I sought to give people an insight into who I was and what sort of MP I would seek to be – issuing my curriculum vitae was an unlikely medium, but seemed to be well received.

The chance to have served as the MP for Hampstead & Kilburn would indeed have been an honour and a privilege, but it was not to be this time.

Sadly, it appears that in the final hour people opted for the devil they know – there was considerable evidence of people who went in planning to vote Liberal Democrat who opted at the last minute one of the other two old parties.  Voting reform is an immediate cry from many people, and few seats demonstrate the unfairness of the “winner takes all” system than here in Hampstead and Kilburn where 68% voted against the winner under first past the post.

This also affected our councillors locally – I absolutely know how hard our sitting councillors have worked over the past four years. Across the seat we have 12 councillors, compared to the Conservatives with 10 and Labour with 8.

A lot of people have asked me what I’m going to do next.

Immediately I'm going to have a short break - but I live here and I’m not going anywhere.  You do not go through the experience of the last 5 years with the aim of just ditching the commitment and walking away. The commitment is real, the local links are deep, the passion and the sense of injustice are strong – I’m not good at walking past on the other side.

So once again a huge thank you – for your emails, questions, vote, participation and indeed even your criticism.  I hold the democratic process very dear and whilst it feels rough and unfair at times, I treasure the fact that we have free and open elections.

But most of all thank you for your interest and your support.

Prominent former Labour party member Professor Philippe Sands QC has joined the growing number of local residents who are turning their backs on Gordon Brown's discredited Government and backing Ed Fordham to win in Hampstead and Kilburn. His backing comes just as the Guardian Newspaper is also abandoning its long held support for Labour, and throwing its weight behind what it calls the "party of progress" in the Liberal Democrats.

In his letter, as well as backing Ed Fordham personally, describing him as "a candidate of great integrity... passionate... capable and enormously hard working", Professor Sands details his disillusionment with New Labour. "This General Election provides a once-in-a-century moment to redefine British politics. I thought that moment might come in 1997, but like many people I got New Labour wrong."

A study by the Ham and High newspaper has concluded that Ed Fordham is the candidate most in tune with local people.  The independent panel consisted of traders and residents groups, campaigners, patients groups, arts representatives, schools, police panel leaders, and the Heath and Hampstead Society. Topics they raised ranged from immigration, small businesses and basement developments to education, bus passes and community policing.

Belsize residents have reacted with delight to the news that, nearly two years after the last Belsize post office was closed, a new sub post office is set to open, according to the Ham & High newspaper.

The Ham & High reported that a site had been identified and that the Post Office had given the plan a green light.

“As I have gone door to door, people have told me how they feel let down by this Labour Government, about the illegal war in Iraq, worried by mission drift in Afghanistan and a sense of frustration that the gap between rich and poor has got worse over the last 30 years. 

They have talked to me about their powerlessness over big institutions like the banks, but also over healthcare, policing and how they feel powerless over the ongoing weekend tube closures that have been forced upon us.  That is why we need change here”.