DEAR Jemima Smith, thank you for your concern over my engagement in democracy (Letters, Dec 14).

It's hard to hear that you 'questioned my ability to vote'. I mulled over your letter for some time and decided to respond.

Calling Muslim women 'letter boxes', gay men 'bumboys', more gay men 'beasts', female labour candidates 'hot totty', emotional women 'blubbing blondes', African people having 'watermelon smiles', saying that Islamophobia is a 'natural reaction', is quite frankly more concerning to me that what somebody on the internet may have said to upset you.

Judging by the result of the election it seems as though Boris' aggressive approach has unfortunately had its desired effect.

I won't lie, I don't want to be associated with people who ignore nine years of austerity in favour of 'getting brexit done', attempting to brush away real issues facing real people is vile and rude for no legitimate reason.

It's like putting dog poo on your pizza because you really don't like pineapple – no thank you.

Now, from what I see, most of the conservative supporters choose to ignore the genuine facts and figures of the current conservative government – merely stating 'anti-Semitism' by the Labour Party's leader as a main factor in their vote.

Let's not forget that Mr Corbyn was awarded the Ghandi International Peace Prize and is a member of the privy council – not bad for a 'terrorist sympathiser' I would say, would you agree?

You're trying to make yourselves feel better about yourselves by writing letters into your local newspaper to berate and belittle the genuine supporters of the Labour Party who saw through the lies (88 per cent of the Tory social media campaign compared to zero per cent of Labour's, in case you're wondering) in favour of your racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic liar of a prime minister.

I understand we have a right to free speech, but that doesn't mean we have to use it in such a way that we alienate people.

So whilst you're being all high and mighty, fighting for your precious Conservative Party, just remember the rise in homelessness, in poverty, in food banks, in hate crimes, in stabbings, in deaths, in NHS waiting times.

Remember the drops in police numbers, in prison officer numbers, in NHS staff numbers.

Laughable, truly.

Your words are somewhat extreme, your attitude entitled and childish. I'm yet to speak to a single Conservative supporter who had something positive to say about the Conservative Party and not just a slur on the leader of the opposition.

Did I vote labour? Yes. Do I feel the need for people to know that I voted labour? Yes.

Because unlike a Conservative supporter, I'm more concerned with the state of this country than I am with 'getting Brexit done'.

So congratulations of taking your vote and shoving it in the ballot box. I sincerely hope you're proud.

JIMI MURPHY

Sunnyside Road, Poole