In his letter (June 29, ‘Country Faces Challenges’), Mr Wright, from Kendal, posed the question ‘why would anyone in the Constituency vote Conservative’? As the Conservative Candidate in the recent General Election perhaps I can help?

While on the doorstep throughout the constituency meeting many people and often getting a good grilling it became clear that local residents were again prepared to put their faith in the Conservative Party and in their candidate (me).

Firstly, they were delighted that the party had selected a truly local candidate who as well as being involved in politics had a real life perspective, using local services, running a small local business and understanding first hand local issues.

The electorate had also wised up to the fact that if they wanted real influence in Government then they had in this election two choices: the Labour candidate or myself the Conservative candidate. Of the other two candidates one was content to continually carp from the side lines and have the easy option of always being the opposition band wagon jumper and the other was a fish finger!

The record of the Government was also a factor. When we came to Government in 2010 the outgoing Labour Government had left the country almost bankrupt. Tough but effective decisions had to be taken and, seven years on, the nation is in a much stronger position, unemployment is at a record low, more young people have quality apprenticeships and the country’s deficit has shrunk dramatically.

The last few years have not been easy for many but without a strong economy no nation can afford the quality public services we all need.

A Labour Government led by Jeremy Corbyn and a huge spending spree would have been a disaster, it would have set us back decades. It would also have meant that in the long term our public services such as the NHS would have had huge uncertainty in terms of long-term funding and our children and grandchildren would have picked up the bill for this mad spending rampage.

One of the very positive elements of the Conservative manifesto was the funding offered for health and social care. NHS England asked Government for £8bn to take the NHS forward and that money was in the manifesto. Every penny.

Of course, our area needs more investment, both in public services and local infrastructure. But people asked themselves who is going to be best placed to deliver that? Nearly 23,000 local electors decided that a local born and bred Conservative MP with the ability to work with the Government was the best choice.

And, while I came second this time, I want to place on record my thanks to all those people who voted for me and to a huge team of volunteers who worked so incredibly hard. You were all fantastic. To those that didn’t I look forward to meeting you soon and perhaps changing your mind.

Coun James Airey

Conservative candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale at the 2017 general election

Great Urswick