Its been a whirlwind of two weeks following my nomination as one of six candidates to stand for election as the next MP for Bromsgrove.
At the packed selection meeting of members of Bromsgrove Conservatives yesterday Sajid Javid won. He's a great guy, an accomplished businessman, family man, and will be the Conservative Party's first muslim MP. That's great news all round.
It was the first time that I taken part in a candidate selection meeting, so coming runner-up, whilst tough, is an achievement that I'm proud of. I know I did my best, and could not have done more.
I'm hugely grateful to so many supporters in Bromsgrove who have advised me over the past couple of weeks. But most of all I'm endebted beyond all measure to my fiancee Juliet who has been so patient and loving. I so lucky that we will be married in August.
Meanwhile, good luck to Sajid and Laura in Bromsgrove. Its a great place to represent, and I know he'll do them proud.
