I want to thank the thousands of people who voted for me on Thursday and the hundreds who have since contacted me with warm words of support. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the messages and the deep felt loss that people are expressing.

During the election I was touched by the thousands of people who seemed to appreciate my time as the MP for Loughborough. Since the defeat on Thursday the tributes have been even stronger - somebody on my facebook site had to remind people I had not died!!

It is time now to move on. I am proud of the work I have done as a constituency MP and felt there was still so much more I could offer.

The overall election result is something I will speak about later (and certainly blog about) but now I am taking a well earned rest to spend time with a family who have been so patient for far too long. It is time to invest time with them.

As I am no longer an MP I cannot take up any more casework - that should all now be sent to our Tory MP.

I would also like to put on record my thanks to the team of staff in Loughborough and London. For many they will have been the first point of contact and they too will be made redundant in the next few days. I am sure you would like to pass on your appreciation too.

I will continue a wide range of voluntary Leicestershire roles I hold and will be looking to do charity work - so I will not be disappearing - just moving away from front line politics for a while.

It is also important to note that the Tory MP is now defending a slim 3000 majority. I know from experience that this is all too easy to slip away. I am sure the Labour Party locally will be holding her to account and scrutinising every move. If Limehurst is threatened with closure and an Incinerator given the go-ahead this year we know who to blame. Cuts in Surestart and educaiton and health will not go unpunished."

Today is polling Day and here in Loughborough there is a straight fight between Labour and the Tories.

You are electing the person you want to represent the constituecy in Parliament - a Parliament that looks like it will be hung if the polls are right.

It is a clear chocie - a hard working local MP who is highly regarded even by his opponents. The Tory candidate describes him as a good MP as does the Lib Dem candidate - so why change? Why risk losing a good local MP willing to speak up and represent us in Westminster?

That is the choice today. A proven track record of hard work and integrity v a Tory Solicitor fromLondon who only came to Loughborough after fighting other seats because she only wants to be an MP & nothing else. Loughborough is being used as her ticket to Westminster. It won't be her main place to live she will continue to 'visit' our constituency. Don't let it happen. It is in your hands today.

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Despite attempts to hide the true nature of their plans the Independent body the IFS has confirmed what we knew all along - Tax Credits for hard working middle income families are facing cuts under Tory plans.

“The IFS criticised David Cameron’s claims on tax credits as 'incomplete at best and misleading at worst'. As he well knows, the facts show that to raise the £400 millions he’s pledged, he will be taking tax credits from families on total household incomes of £31,000 – not £50,000 as he has tried to claim. That’s a family of two earners on £16,000 each. Contrary to what David Cameron thinks, these people are not well off. With four days to go before the election, he’s got to admit that 1.3 million households on modest and middle incomes will lose up to £10 a week if he gets into office.”

Andy Reed said: "I find on the doorstep that families like this are sruggling to make ends meet. You can't just take money off them as the Tories do without it having a massive impact on their quality of life.

"What has been worse is the Tories attempts to pretend this is all a Labour scare. Like so many of their policies they don't want you to know the facts and consequences. They want to hide behind a David Cameron Smile and a vague slogan"

http://www2.labour.org.uk/cameron-hiding-true-impact-of-child-tax-credit-cuts,2010-05-03

The Richard Engelgardt Trust received cheques for around £9000 at the Birstall RFC President Day on Bank Holiday Sunday.

The annual Birstall Charity game was held in aid of Birstall player Richard Engelgardt - who suffered a spinal injury at the start of the 2009/10 season. A Trust has been set up to help Richard.

Andy Reed President of Birstall Rugby Club said "It is important that we look after Richard and his needs, not just for one or two years but for the rest of his life. That is what the rugby community is like - we rally round. I have ben proud of the reponse of everybody at the club, across the County and in fact all over the country"

The fundraising activities included a 'Beard-off', a Lions fundraising evening with Hatt Hampson, Ventnor RFC donation and the Parliamentary Team making a donation.

More activities are planned throughout the year. A website and news will be launched soon.

Andy Reed will lead out his President XV rugby side at Birstall again this year on Sunday. This year the funds raised from the charity game will go to the injured player Richard Engelgardt's Trust.

Andy said "This is a long standing commitment. There is no way I could let down Rich and the fund raising we need to do. I am now a Trustee of the Fund we have set up to look after Richard. I am proud to be here and involved.

"As President of the club I am proud of the way this club and the wider rugby community have helped raise funds to look after Richard and his needs after the accident. "

"Last year we won again with the help of two Tuilagi brothers! This year I have kept it so that we have a closer game!! But I am still expecting my team to play some attractive rugby. We will certainly be throwing it around on Sunday."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was today joined by Olympic stars of the future at Loughborough University, one of the UK's leading sports science institutions, to launch Labour's Sports Manifesto. It explains Labour's plans for a golden decade of sport in Britain, and for young people. To view a full copy of the manifesto.

The manifesto sets out guarantees of 5 hours a week of competitive sport for all under-19s in full time educat ion as well as the creation of a national network of 3,000 Olympic after-school Sports Clubs for teenagers by 2011. Other measures in the manifesto include 10,000 new Volunteer Coaches by 2012 and more free swimming sessions for children and the over-60s.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:

"Right across this country when people mention the word sport, they mention Loughborough. The Sports Manifesto we are launching today, explains our commitment to sport and our polices for the future. We have already delivered a major increase in investment in school sport, and 90 per cent of children are taking part in 2 hours PE per week. In the future we will build on this foundation and make the next ten years a truly golden decade for UK sport."

The encouragement of sporting activity is also a key component of Labour's drive to improve public health.

Andy Reed said "Loughborough is the obvious choice to launch a sports manifesto. We can see at every level our commitment to sport here - from the elite to schools sport and physical activity.

"I was delighted Gordon recognises the importance of Loughborough and what we do here. I think he has left in no doubt about our world class facilities and athletes.

http://www2.labour.org.uk/labour-launches-sports-manifesto-at-loughborough-university,2010-04-30

http://insidethegames.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9529:brown-promises-more-medals-for-britain-at-london-2012-if-re-elected&catid=84:london-2012-news&Itemid=89

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell visited Loughborough University with Labour candidate Andy Reed today.

The Prime Minister met Olympic hopefuls and toured the facilities at the University - which will be home to Team GB in the lead up to the 2012 games.

Andy Said "We have made investment in our sport infrastructure over the last decade - as Gordon saw today. We have also invested in our elite athletes and the infrastructure that surrounds them - with Loughborough benefiting of course. The news that Team GB will be based here confirms our status as THE leading sports University in the UK and worldwide!

"But what we also wanted to show Gordon was the work the University is doing in health and physical activity as well.

"We didn't come 4th in the medal table in Bejing by accident. It was down to the hard work of athletes and coaches backed up by a system of total support. "

Andy Reed was at STEPS in Shepshed yesterday to meet with parents and users of the centre. Andy Reed is a Trustee of the Shepshed based charity.

Steps is a registered charity which provides specialist nursery services and support to children with motor disorders and their families, enabling them to lead fuller, more active lives. They provide a unique service that depends upon the financial support of our funders, sponsors and donors.

"I have been happy to be associated with STEPS for a number of years and they do go from strength to strength. But their work does rely so heavily on support from the local community and fundraising. I am therefore, always happy to raise the profile of the excellent work they are doing.

"It was also useful to talk to parents about what more can be done to create social opportunities as well as the more formal classes!"

http://www.stepscentre.org.uk/