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HOWARD'S WAY.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

8 December 2005

By the time you read this I shall no longer be Leader of the Conservative Party.

It has been a hectic two years. I did not achieve what I had hoped to achieve but I believe we have made considerable progress.

In the May election we emerged, for the first time in 22 years, with many more Members of Parliament than we had before the election. We won more votes than Labour in England. And if just, 14,500 voters in the 34 seats which give Labour its majority had voted differently, we would now be in a hung Parliament.

That was not to be but I do believe that we have laid a solid foundation on which my successor can build.

As I write I do not know who that successor will be. But, whoever wins, I shall give him my wholehearted support from the backbenches.

I am often asked whether I shall; now spend more time in the constituency. It will certainly be possible for me to spend more time here. But I have never allowed my other duties, in government or in opposition, to interfere with the service I give to my constituents.

You put me in Parliament in the first place. You are my masters. And you will always come first.

So you can expect to see me at my regular advice centres and at many different events in the constituency. And I shall carry on doing my best to reply promptly to your letters and so all I can to help with your concerns.

I have always regarded it as a enormous privilege to serve as the Member of Parliament for the Folkestone and Hythe constituency and I shall continue to serve you to the very best of my ability.