Article For Folkestone Herald and Kentish Express

12 May 2005

The first thing to say as I resume my column after the election break is thank you. I am enormously grateful to all who voted for me last week. The fact that my majority was nearly doubled is a source of great pride and also makes me feel very humble.

I shall continue to serve all the people of Folkestone and Hythe constituency to the very best of my ability. And I would like to make it absolutely clear that my decision to give up the leadership of the Conservative Party (not now, but in due course) does not in any way affect my determination to remain as the Member of Parliament for this constituency.

The first constituency events I attended after the election were those associated with the sixtieth anniversary of VE Day. Reverend Anthony Buckley conducted a morning service at the Garden of Remembrance with a stirring parade of veterans and then I was able to pay a brief visit to the Go Folkestone street party on the Bayle. This was a very happy occasion and Sandra and I were sorry not to be able to stay longer.

The reason we couldn’t was that we had to go to London for the concert in Trafalgar Square.

This, too, was a splendid event. To be in the very place where the tumultuous celebrations took place 60 years ago was a very splendid experience. There were thousands of people present and the atmosphere was tremendous. It was a pretty good concert, too, with Katherine Jenkins, the new Forces Sweetheart, being joined by Dame Vera Lynn for the final rendition of “We’ll Meet Again.”

Sandra and I were privileged to sit right in front of the veterans who sang all the wartime songs with gusto and seemed to be having the time of their lives.

It is so important that we never forget the sacrifices made on our behalf. It is to them that we owe the freedoms we enjoy today. And we cannot do enough to honour the men and women who gave us so much.