FOREIGN secretary and MP for South West Surrey Jeremy Hunt has spoken out following the “disappointing” results in the May 2 local elections.

Mr Hunt said the results were “hard to accept”, but added “this is democracy” and as local MP will “continue to work closely with whoever runs the borough and town councils”.

The South West Surrey MP recognised that the “primary reason for this rejection” was down to “national rather than local factors”, adding: “However hard my local team talked about their vision for our community, many people on the doorstep were just furious that Brexit has not been resolved.

“As foreign secretary I have always been clear that we must honour the referendum result but I have to take my share of the responsibility for a situation that, so far, has seen MPs collectively unable to agree on a way forward.

“In fairness that message was as much aimed at the Labour Party as the Conservatives who had an equally disappointing night given what opposition parties usually achieve at this stage in the electoral cycle.”

Mr Hunt said they “need to listen now to what people told us”, by delivering Brexit and starting the “painful process” of uniting the country.

He also thanked the previous Waverley Borough Council administration and acknowledged the “hard work” of the unsuccessful Tory candidates.