Madam, As you know, I have now stood down as Member of Parliament for Hereford and will not be contesting this election.
It has been a great privilege to serve the Hereford constituency, the city and county of my birth. Since 1997, working with central and local government, we have achieved public investment in flood defences for Hereford and Ross-on-Wye, secured the A&E and maternity departments at the new County Hospital, the provision of new schools and colleges and major investment in road building in the Rotherwas Relief Road.
The best and most important part of my time as MP has been helping constituents with casework enquiries. I am proud of serving my Party in Parliament too, especially in opposing the Iraq war and in campaigning for justice for the Gurkhas.
Naturally I hope that Sarah Carr will be successful in her election campaign - she would make an excellent MP. However, whoever is chosen as the next MP for Hereford & South Herefordshire, I guarantee a smooth transition between my office and theirs. No constituency casework will suffer as a result in the change of MP and I will support and co-operate with the incoming MP in whatever way I can.
I will be staying in Herefordshire with my family after the General Election and look forward to the future with fond memories of my time in Parliament serving the people of the Hereford constituency.
Paul Keetch, Hereford