WHEN I stood against Ed Vaizey in the 2005 General Election I promised that I would continue to live in the constituency. I felt this was essential if I was to properly represent the electorate. Essential, because it was the best way to keep in touch with the views and feeling of those who might place their trust in me. Essential, because it is clearly the best way to understand the issues which impact our local community. 

Over the past few weeks a series of events have only strengthened this view. 

NHS England withdrew promised, critical funding from the GP practices in both Wantage & Grove and in Faringdon. Our MP reacted by stating that he was not aware of this until it had happened.

This week, the Government announced that it would unilaterally withdraw from Euratom, the organization which aids cooperation in the European nuclear industry and which currently undertakes significant research into fusion. It is legally distinct from the EU. The world leading science community in this constituency will be affected more than any other and yet our MP reacted by stating that he was not aware of this until it had happened.

And on the EU referendum on which he campaigned for and the majority of his electors voted Remain, Mr Vaizey chose to toe the party line rather than represent the views of either us or indeed himself. To his credit he did host 2 public meetings to gauge the the views of people he represents But, by then voting to trigger Article 50 without the ability to put the terms of departure to the electorate, he chose to ignore the overwhelming views at those meetings. 

The cynic in me might question why such public meetings are needed when I hear these views at school pick up time, in the shops, at the pub and on the local bus. 

It is perhaps, moderate politicians not keeping abreast of the reasonable concerns of their electorates which allow more extreme and intolerant views to prosper.

ANDREW CRAWFORD
Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate 2005
Charlton Road, Wantage