SINCERE congratulations to David Drew on being re-elected our MP for Stroud and best wishes to Neil Carmichael after his seven years at Westminster.

Since 2001 and six General Elections the voters in Stroud have been exceptionally lucky to have had the choice between these two excellent Parliamentary candidates.

And I suspect the duo will, in six months time, add to their record breaking head-to-head contests.

A hung parliament only has a short life.

I believe that Mr Drew’s win is the first in Stroud for a Labour candidate when his party did not form the governing party.

He enters the House of Commons at a historic moment in time with the Brexit issues.

Good luck David.

Tom Newman

Stroud

ON WAKING up Friday morning to the results of the general election it was not too much of a surprise that Stroud had drawn the short straw.

I see David as the sugar coating on the bitter pill of socialism but as a fellow human being ticks all the right boxes and a worthy substitute to the majority of the other contestants, who when not practicing walking on water would have us eating grass or praying to the wind, but sadly in the near future sterner decisions will need to be made, a mantle in my opinion that does not fit the shoulders of our elected MP but this is what democracy is all about, take note Dr House.

On reflection the overall country result was not as I would have wished but hopefully we can look forward casting off the shackles of the EU and our children and grandchildren can once more look forward to enjoy the freehold of our country uninhibited by the dead hand of European bureaucracy, and the giveaway polices of Saint Jeremy.

Francis Ray

Stroud