A HUGE thank you to the voters of North West Hampshire for re-electing me as your MP. I have worked hard over the last nine years to live up to the trust you have placed in me, and we have achieved a lot together. I will continue to do my best for everyone in this lovely part of England.
My thanks also to the other candidates. The exercise of our democracy requires vigorous debate, and while we won’t always agree, we must disagree with respect. For the most part we achieved this between us.
My immediate priorities will be familiar from the campaign.
We need to get on with the dramatic planned changes to Andover town centre. We secured a massive £18.3m of Levelling Up money which will be used to completely transform the High Street, with a new theatre and riverside park first to appear. We need spades in the ground as soon as possible.
READ MORE: Here is the full list of MPs for Hampshire
We need to get our new hospital built on Junction 7 of the M3. Plans have been progressing well, and in time, it will complement the new medical centre and diagnostics hub at Andover War Memorial Hospital. Taken together, this is the biggest ever investment in our local healthcare system.
Stamping out drug crime, rural crime and antisocial behaviour remains a major priority and I will continue my work with Hampshire police to make our neighbourhoods even safer.
I will continue to fight for our landscape and ecology. We need even greater protection for our chalk streams and I will continue my campaign to upgrade our stunning Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to a National Park.
And our schools need the support and resources to advance even further. I will play my part in standing up for them, and helping them succeed.
However, it was a challenging election nationally. The Conservative Party must now take the time to reflect, listen, and change to earn people's trust again. I will play my part in that debate and hope that the many who for various reasons withheld their vote from us this time, may return with confidence in the future.
It is a privilege to serve you once again. My team and I are here if you need us. Thank you once again for putting your trust in me.
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