It has been a privilege to be the Conservative Party Candidate to fight the recent General Election here in North Devon since November 2006.  Helen and I both thank you for your support. I am naturally very disappointed not to be in a position to be able to provide a voice for the 18,484 people who voted for change in North Devon when the next Government is formed. However, we must respect people’s right to vote as they see fit and unfortunately, on this occasion, we were beaten by a long-standing Liberal Democrat Candidate, despite the disappointment their Party suffered nationally by losing overall seats.

I am proud of the positive, respectful and honest way in which my team and I ran our campaign with the very limited resources that we had available to us. We worked unstintingly and whatever the outcome, we can hold our heads in honour that we did not stoop to inappropriate practices. We have all both enjoyed and been rewarded richly by the experience and in meeting so many of the wonderful people of North Devon.  I would like to thank everyone who has helped me since being selected and especially my close team of volunteers – without the support of those people we could not have hoped to run the campaign we have. If I am fortunate enough to be given opportunity to fight for North Devon again at the next General Election (whenever that may be), I can promise you that our efforts will be redoubled in ensuring that next time around, North Devon gets the change I believe we need in order to ensure that our voice is truly heard in Westminster in what looks ever more likely to be a Conservative-led Government.  

A special thanks must also go out to the Returning Officer, Don Pratt, the local police and all of the helpers both at the polling stations and the count who helped to make the Polling Day run so smoothly.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the Candidates who ran in North Devon, especially Nick Harvey and his team for their success at the Election. Despite the feared austerity packages which the Country faces from any Government, the people of North Devon will be holding him to account to protect all the front line jobs in the public sector as he promised he would do in his acceptance speech, starting perhaps with those threatened at Petroc. 

With best wishes

Philip Milton
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon