THE CONSERVATIVE Party’s disastrous district council elections boils down to one word – Brexit.

That is the verdict of Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper who blames the delays in exiting the European Union for his party’s problems with the voters of the region and around the country.

Mr Harper was in Cinderford last Friday to witness how his election candidates slumped from a situation months before the big day when they were expected to romp to a majority at Coleford council offices to a position where they almost halved their number of elected members.

And the Forest MP has refused to rule out challenging for the top job at Number Ten Downing Street when Prime Minister Theresa May steps down from the job when Brexit is eventually delivered.

Mr Harper also believes the talks between Mrs May and Labour Party grandees including leader Jeremy Corbyn to resolve the Brexit impasse are pointless.

He told the Forester: “It is very clear. I have been out on doors and Conservative voters are still very keen to support the Conservative Party except they want us to deliver Brexit.

“It is a simple message on the doorstep. They are perfectly happy with what our councillors are doing. The voters I have spoken to are very happy with my performance as their Member of Parliament when I was re-elected two years ago but they want us to keep our promise and get on and deliver the result of the referendum. It is a single message on the doorstep.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER