“I’ve gone through 11 months of hell.

I’ve not been alone. Many have walked with me, including my team at Clitheroe and Westminster, my constituency association, my family, my friends, my constituents, and indeed many people who I don’t even know have sent messages of support.

In my darkest and loneliest, there were only two, or one, set of footprints in the sand.

And those of you of faith will know they weren’t mine.

The fact is I have got work to do. It’s the work that I have done for the last 22 years.

So this isn’t a time for celebration or euphoria.

Bill Roache just a few weeks ago from this very spot said there are no winners in these cases and that’s absolutely right.

There are no winners. So no celebrations.

And the fact is I’ve got work to do, work that I’ve done for the last 22 years.

All I can say is that after the last 11 months that I’ve gone through nothing will ever be the same again.”