HAVING lived in the Forest all my life, and been fortunate to have been employed, as a professional, in the forest for the greater part of my working life, I was fearful that UKIP may have appealed to a rural area.  

I was, however, hopeful that the spirit of generosity and compassion along with a good dose of common sense would steer the Forest of Dean voters away from this narrow minded, right wing bunch of dreamers.

It seems my faith was misplaced.

So I ask you, the UKIP voters;

How many business and jobs are reliant on Europe in the forest?

Go to GlaxoSmithkline annual report and note that "The UK is the company's country of domicile" that means that the UK is the companies "nationality" it regards itself as British. SPP Pumps, Indian owned, relies on over 60 per cent of its order book from outside of the UK.

How will these two companies fare if UKIP pulls the UK out of Europe? Will they still want to manufacture in the UK. I don't think so.

If the protection of our export market, freedom to trade and our jobs are not reason enough to avoid UKIP, then I ask you to consider the human element.

This country needs an additional labour force, growth is hampered by a skills and labour shortage. Ask anyone who has tried to recruit for a company with over 25 people.

Are we really that intolerant of our European neighbours? My grandfather employed (in the Forest of Dean) Polish and Italian immigrants after Word War II, a war where many of you and your families fought against right wing extremism. Has so much changed?

Do you really support a bunch of sexist, racist, homophobes? Google UKIP and any of those three words and read the quotes from UKIPs own supporters.

Is the Forest not better than that?

I hope that this win for UKIP is simply a protest vote against the alternatives, before we find ourselves without employment law, without maternity pay, without the freedom to travel, and without housing.

If UKIP decide to issue any formal manifesto, including financial policy and social policy prior to the next general election (they have disowned the manifesto they issued in 2010 - but then who wouldn't?) I would urge close scrutiny before placing a UKIP vote, for all our sakes.

– Emma Jenkins, Littledean