AS the Lib Dem candidate for Richmond I’d like to say a public “thank you” to the 3,360 voters who turned out for us last Thursday.

To be frank, that is a long way short of where I hoped we would be, but I trust it is enough to keep the fire of liberalism burning in North Yorkshire, awaiting better conditions for our success.

I continue to believe that the common sense middle ground that liberalism represents is the only real way ahead for a country that needs desperately to invest for its future prosperity and yet even after eight years of austerity remains deeply in debt.

I am astounded Labour has done so well at this election. For all the talk of hope over fear, their movement will do nothing to create new wealth, for the many or the few. I regret that the weakness of the first past the post system has led to so few seats for either the Lib Dems or Greens, and a Tory government backed by a party like the DUP.

Finally I’d like to say congratulations to Conservative candidate Rishi Sunak on his re-election, thankyou to my fellow candidates who proved themselves thoroughly decent human beings during this election, and that it’s been a privilege to be the voice of liberalism in what is undoubtedly the most beautiful constituency in the country.

Tobie Abel, Lib Dem candidate, Richmond