A political campaigner who took her own life weeks after defeat at local council elections left a note saying: “My death has nothing to do with the result.”

Susan Davenport, 62, made her position clear in a handwritten message discovered at her Dover home in June this year.

The Conservative had been found dead in her car outside, with a separate note on the front seat instructing passersby to call 999.

A month before her death she had stood unsuccessfully in the Dover District Council elections, having hoped to represent Middle Deal ward.

An inquest into her death was heard today at County Hall in Maidstone.

Coroner Katrina Hepburn told how Ms Davenport explained in notes that her defeat at the polls had not played a part in her decision to end her life.

“I am not suffering from depression or any kind of psychotic episode - I am perfectly happy and I know my time has come,” Ms Davenport wrote.

“I hope I can assure you my death has nothing to do with the result of the recent election; that is nothing to do with why I have chosen this drastic action.”

The inquest heard Ms Davenport was confirmed dead shortly after 3.45pm on June 20, and that “very little” was known about her private life.

“She makes it abundantly clear within her notes that she has no family, no parents, siblings, cousins or other family members she is aware of,” the coroner said.

In one note Ms Davenport wrote that her dogs were “my pride and joy, my proudest achievement; I leave them behind with much regret”.

“My only concern is my dogs. They are now homeless and I am hoping to find a good home where they can stay together,” she explained.

The coroner said Ms Davenport was not known to have had any contact with mental health services, but in 2020 had been admitted to hospital after taking an overdose.

At the time she was experiencing money issues and had become depressed following the death of her mother.

A GP’s report read out in court stated: “She was in the depths of despair at the time of the overdose due to a dire financial situation, but she had found a way forward and was happy.”

Ms Davenport, who also left a recorded video message, was born in Hackney in 1960, and lived in Sidcup in Bexley for most of her life.

She lectured at an adult education college in Sidcup before retiring to Dover in 2021, but continued her involvement in politics.

Following her death, Conservative colleague and Dover district councillor Oliver Richardson said: “I worked with her on the last elections; she was lovely to be with, full of joy, a keen campaigner for her ward in Deal.”

The coroner ruled Ms Davenport’s death a suicide.

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