AS the Conservative candidate for Leigh in the recent General Election, I would like to thank the nearly 17,000 people who turned out to vote for me.

This was considerably more than the 10,000 who voted Conservative in 2015.

I realise that many of them will have never voted Conservative before and would like to thank them for putting their faith in me.

It was a great honour to be able to stand for the seat I have lived in all my life.

While the people of Leigh did not elect a Conservative MP on this occasion, I was struck by how many people supported me on the local issues I campaigned on.

Huge numbers of people want to see us get back our railway station, our own council, to protect our greenbelt and to see our town centres regenerated back to their former glory.

I intend to continue to campaign on these issues in the years ahead.

Leigh is now a considerably more marginal seat than it was before the General Election.

Labour can no longer be assured of winning just by strapping on a red rosette and turning up to the count on election night.

Finally I would like to congratulate our new MP Jo Platt on her victory.

I have always got on with Jo very well personally during our time together at Wigan Council and I wish her well in serving our town.

Cllr James Grundy

Lowton East ward