I would like to thank everybody who voted for me last Thursday from the bottom of my heart. I’m just so sorry I wasn’t succesful in returning a Conservative MP to Westminster for Bolton North East. I felt I threw everything possible into winning the seat but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough.

I’ve been involved in politics for many years, and will continue to be so, my enthusiasm for public office hasn’t been dented whatsoever, but I do hope for the sake of my home town and our great country the dirty campaign I have experienced over the last 6 months is never repeated. I made the decision at the beginning of my campaign not to get down in the dirt with the Labour Party and I stand by the decision and would do the same again whether it meant winning or not. I also stand by the decision not to allow myself to be manipulated by promising parts of the community any special treatment. I have always advocated that where ever you live in Bolton you should be treated the same, and I stand by that.

I haven’t until now commented on the article in the Sunday Mirror. This Labour supporting newspaper camped on my doorstep early one Saturday morning a couple of weeks before the General Election – the accusation that 18 years ago in 1992, four months after I had legally separated from my x husband I had started to see someone else. How is this news you may ask yourself!

In fact I’m still with Mark and have 2 beautiful daughters as a result…..what a scandal! That article was photocopied and sent anonymously in the post with sticky addressed labels across the constituency the day before polling day.

At the count on Thursday evening/Friday morning I was heckled, jeered, and booed by a large  crowd in front of the stage who were there supporting my Labour opponent. Slanderous abuse was shouted at me and my family as I made my way to the stage for the result to be announced.  

I left immediately after I had spoken, and to be honest felt in an unsafe and unstable enviroment. I do hope my home town of Bolton isn’t going to experience any problems in the future such as those that have occurred in Burnley or Oldham.

I have a wonderful family who have been incredibly supportive of my ambitions, an amazing set of political officers who I consider to be dear friends all of whom I have to say a huge thanks to. I would also like to thank every single person who has helped me in any way whatsoever, and once again a big thanks to every single one of the 15,786 people who voted for me on May 6th – I’m only sorry that the result wasn’t what we had all hoped for.