The one thing all three major political parties agreed on at the last election was that there would be significant cuts to public spending.  The Labour Party estimated around £40 Billion of cuts but refused to say what they would be.  The Liberal Democrats said there would be suts but not immediately and they also seemed unable to say where the axe would fall.  The Conservatives were pilloried for saying there would be cuts following an emergency budget within the first 50 days and that only the NHS and International Aid would be ring fenced (but that both would need to be more efficient).

I still receive lots of emails and letters from local residents, some of whom assume I am actually now their MP.  Most accept the measures taken by the Chancellor, even though they are having to sacrifice things in their daily lives when they could not possibly be to blame for the deep mess the country's finances are in.  Yet some seem to believe the Labour fantasy that the government can and should carry on spending as if there's no tomorrow, raising taxes only on the rich and forcing ever greater numbers of people to depend on state handouts (even those earning significant sums of money).

It's time to face facts.  This country has been living beyond its means for far too long.  Too many people are employed directly or indirectly by the State, too many others rely on state spending for their living and far too many more are economically inactive or reliant on welfare.  It's nothing new to say to people that they should travel to where they can find work - it's just that now the government will make it easier to do so, and tenants will not lose their homes.  It's not unreasonable to ask people to live within their means - and that includes not having children they can't afford to raise.  And it's not too much to ask that those who expect to receive welfare demonstrate they are making every effort to help themselves out of their situation. 

It's reality time.  The millions employed in private companies have endured spending cuts, pension raids, salary freezes and job cuts for years.  Now the public sector must take its share of the pain. The government is doing everything possible to protect the least well paid and to safeguard as many jobs as possible, but we are all in this together.  I suspect that London will, as usual, suffer more than its fair share of the pain but we're used to that.  I applaud the coalition government for having the courage to make the tough decisions now rather than waiting to be forced to do so when time runs out.  In time I believe we'll all gain from these difficult decisions, but everyone will feel the pain in the meantime.

While I am still getting used to the fact I didn't quite have enough support to enter Parliament last month, last night offered a bit of a consolation prize in the form of drinks in the gardens of Number 10.  Both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister were there and I chatted with the new Home Secretary about the moment she was asked to join the Cabinet (she was told her security people were now waiting outside for her!).  It was a genuinely lovely occasion and all the more so for the mix of people of all parties and none.  It was good to catch up with old friends, congratulate some who were successful on 6th May and especially those now in government - but also to meet many interesting people for the first time.  And in case you were wondering, the catering was very modest and I stuck to elderflower the whole time!

I am delighted to learn that the Prime Minister has appointed the former Trade and Industry Secretary, Lord Young of Graffham, to conduct a Whitehall-wide review of "the operation of health and safety laws and the growth of the compensation culture."

Announcing his appointment, David Cameron said:

“I’m very pleased that Lord Young has agreed to lead this important review. The rise of the compensation culture over the last ten years is a real concern, as is the way health and safety rules are sometimes applied. We need a sensible new approach that makes clear these laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm businesses with red tape. I look forward to receiving Lord Young’s recommendations on how we can best achieve that.”

This is long overdue and will be welcomed by many sensible people across the country - and especially by many in and around Eltham who have told me in recent years of their increasing irritation at this scourge of modern life.  But before the usual suspects howl with outrage, let me be clear about this: it is perfectly right and proper that rules and regulations exist to protect employees and customers, children, the elderly, indeed every single one of us.  But there is a balance to be struck and in recent times the balance has been lost. Children are prevented from doing many things that we did as kids because of obsessive fear of prosecution or civil action.  Volunteers decline to lend a hand because they are either scared of the consequences of a minor error or have to subject themselves to endless hoops before they are trusted to do the smallest act for a good cause.  And all the while, an army of lawyers make vast sums from a growth in compensation culture and flogging advice on satisfying these endless laws and regulations.

If Lord Young can bring about a bit of sanity, maintaining people's safety whilst allowing us to do more with less fear, full power to his elbow.  I welcome him to his new role, working for a government that is showing all the signs of getting stuck into the challenges that matter to every one of us.

I have been asked a lot in recent days for my views on the way Israel handled the attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.  It's no secret that I am a staunch defender of Israel, and I remain so.  However, a good friend is a critical friend, and I have always been as much where Israel is concerned.

The so-called Freedom Flotilla was an ill disguised propaganda exercise designed solely to generate a reaction from Israel that would put the country in a bad light in the eyes of the world.  Many who joined the ships were well known anti-Israelis associated with organisations not beyond using aggressive tactics to fight their cause. They were repeatedly warned that Israel would not allow the ships to reach their stated destination and it is Israel's right to board any vessel to check for banned items.  The campaigners deliberately provoked Israel and as we know from the video footage of the event, were prepared to use severe force.  These people were looking for a fight and they can never again claim to be peaceful campaigners when they go sailing with iron bars, clubs, and other weapons designed to cause maximum injury.  It is deeply regrettable that people lost their lives but I will not subscribe to the view that they are somehow martyrs.

Does that mean I don't think Israel could have handled things better?  No.  Do I agree with the blockade? Not entirely, though having visited Israel and the villages upon which thousands of rockets have landed from the Palestinian border, I respect and defend Israel's right to defend her people from violent attack.

I feel that the current leadership of Israel has lost a lot of good will from the international community and the reaction towards Turkey - a country with which I do actually have significant issues - has been over the top and inflamatory.  I am not sure that the comparison of Turkey to Iran was entirely justified or necessary.  And the continued development of settlements on the disputed areas was ill timed and a two finger salute to the body of international opinion.  Again, this sort of attitude does little to help the Israeli cause.

I hope what will come from this sorry episode is a greater appreciation from Israel of the need to work with the international community, a greater willingness from America to use its influence to good effect, and an end to the almost uncritical reporting by the European media of the Palestinian leadership and those campaigning on their behalf.  At the heart of all this is a totally justified need for Israel to defend her people and we should not criticise them for that.  

There has already been much debate about the resignation of David Laws and will no doubt be much more, but let's not allow this to become about his sexuality.  The reason he has resigned is because he broke the rules on claiming expenses.  It is right that he resigned and that he did so quickly.  I am sure he deeply regrets what he did, especially as it need never have happened, but it has nothing to do with him being gay.

What I am irritated about is the likes of Peter Tatchell trying to make this some sort of scandal concerning his private life, while others claim there is a whiff of homophobia in all this.  That is simply untrue thus far.  It is easy for the likes of Tatchell to say the man should have been open and honest about his sexuality but as far as I am aware he has not lied about his private life and it is a personal matter for him.  Many people are open about their sexuality and it is certainly a lot easier to do so.  But if he is breaking no laws, it is nobody's business.  Where it is our business is where he has breached the regulations.  For that reason, I welcome his resignation even though I am certain he will be greatly missed at the highest level of government.

Although I am obviously disappointed not to have secured enough support to become the next MP for Eltham, I am delighted that David Cameron is now Prime Minister and that he has demonstrated a maturity that has often been lacking in politics by working with former opponents to form a progressive government.

This is a new era for Britain.  There will be many significant challenges and tough times ahead, but I firmly believe that David and his new Cabinet will show courage and leadership in the days ahead.

As for my own future, I would like to thank the many people who have sent kind messages and have asked me to stand again.  I continue to live in Eltham and look forward to enjoying all that our local area has to offer.  As for the future, watch this space!

Thanks to Lola's Cup Cakes for this splendid box of Team David cakes!  Freshly baked this morning, the parcel was a very welcome treat for me and the team.  Think of us at 10pm when we finally find the time to tuck in...

It has been a gruelling month on the campaign trail, not only for us candidates but also the many volunteers who willingly give up their time to support us and take the message to doorsteps across the constituency. I'd like to pay tribute not only to those on my own team but everyone from all parties who has helped to ensure this has been a very energetic and hard fought contest.  I doubt the people of Eltham have ever received so much political literature through their letter boxes - and they may be grateful if we receive a convincing result tonight and avoid a second election later this year!

To that end, I hope everyone will vote today and use their democratic right to say who makes the decisions on their behalf in Parliament and at the Town Hall.  Naturally, I hope people will lend their support to me and my Conservative colleagues because I believe we offer the change this country and our community so desperately needs.  I and my colleagues standing for Greenwich Council have the energy, enthusiasm, commitment and the passion to make this an even betetr place to live and to work.  As local residents we care about this community because it is our community too.

If we are elected today, we will begin the work that is needed tomorrow.  It's time to restore people's faith in politics and the political system.  Let's make a clean start today.

Some voters around the Eltham constituency have seen me followed by film crews during the campaign. One, from Australia, has now aired and the link can be found here.  It's fascinating to see how our general election is being viewed on the other side of the world.

So Gordon Brown has arrived in Coldharbour - and brought torrential rain with him.  It sort of says it all, really.  From the number of phone calls I have had from local residents it seems the general view is one of surprise that the Labour candidate thinks this is going to help him win the election.  We'll see.  But one thing's for sure - if you need to call on one of the most unpopular Prime Ministers in living memory to come and endorse your campaign, it's pretty desperate.

Mr Brown was asking the officers about their work - they say evenings are the worst for anti-social behaviour and agree strongly that giving kids more to do would make a difference.  Which begs the question why Labour's MP and local authority has done so little to provide those activities.