Firstly I would like to say a huge thank you to the people of Gloucester for having given me the opportunity to keep working for our city and for the new Conservative Government to take our country forward. The Queen’s Speech laid out key parts of our manifesto, including the EU Referendum Bill to all British (and Irish and Commonwealth citizens living here) the chance to determine our relationship with Europe.

But I am also conscious of the constituent who wrote: “I trust you on the economy, but please don’t forget public services and the vulnerable.” As a former civil servant and someone who helped create and was a director of a foster care charity, I promise I will never forget that part of an MP’s role.

So there is a job of reconciliation to be done now, of recognising that all parties had something to contribute, that no party or individual has a monopoly on wisdom and that pulling together is vital, especially in a small city like Gloucester.

I spent a lot of time in my first five years putting into practice my belief that an MP should work with everyone who wants to make Gloucester better.

I focused especially on working with the councils and the new LEP, and that will continue to make sure, for example, that the Blackfriars and university masterplans work best for Gloucester.

I also look forward to working with Cheltenham’s new MP Alex Chalk on the funding for improvements to the Elmbridge Court roundabout and other projects that will benefit both constituencies.

And I will push ahead with investor links so that local businesses can benefit from contractor opportunities with the likes of Tidal Lagoon Power, as well as more SMEs benefiting from my links with the Far East.

But this time I want to go further and have wider discussions to improve the environment or generate new forms of sustainable energy, like the Hereford & Glos Canal Trust’s plan for a mini hydro at Llanthony weir.

And I am determined to make real progress on training more local nurses locally, as well as seeing through the exciting plans for a new GP surgery in Kingsway.

All of these, alongside projects already started – like talks for a new franchise to bring more Cross Country trains to stop at Gloucester, or help more with disabilities into work – will take hard work, perseverance and a bit of persuasion and luck to pull off.

I promise to all my constituents, however you voted, masses of hard work for you and with you. I want to surprise our county and country with what Gloucester can achieve together over the next five years – and keep our city firmly on the UP.