Five questions for Mid Dorset and North Poole candidates

They were all given the same amount of time to come back to us with their answers, and while most did respond, some didn't.

The final question - What are your top three policies other than Brexit? - was put forward by one of our lovely readers.

Below you can read what the candidates for Mid Dorset and North Poole had to say.

• CONSERVATIVE - Michael Tomlinson

Where do you stand on Brexit – Leave or Remain? And why?

I voted alongside nearly 60 per cent of fellow constituents to leave the EU in 2016. I said I would honour the result of the referendum – I have and I will continue to do so if re-elected. For me it is no longer a question of Leave or Remain, it is a question of democracy.

Your policy on climate change

One of the most important things we did in the last Parliament was legislating to achieve Net Zero emissions. We will put the need to tackle climate change at the core of all we do – whilst helping our economy to grow and keeping energy bills down. We will lead the world in developing new renewable technologies and create millions of new green jobs.

How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?

By keeping our economy strong. You can’t fund the NHS if you bankrupt the country. The Conservative government are providing the biggest cash boost in the history of the NHS and the Prime Minister is making it his immediate task to ensure that people start seeing this funding in their local GP surgeries and local hospitals. The figure is £33.9 billion more in cash for the NHS by 2023-24, with an initial £6.2 billion increase this year.

What is your policy on housing?

I do not support building on the Green Belt. Priority must be given for new housing on brownfield land - locally we should be looking to prioritise sites like the old Poole power station site. Cutting stamp duty for 95 per cent of first-time buyers is key – saving people up to £5,000 on the purchase of their home.

What are your top three policies other than Brexit?

Education, by continuing to ensure that we secure fair funding for Poole and Dorset. Keeping our community safe by tackling anti-social behaviour. Protecting our environment – protecting the Green Belt by prioritising building on brownfield sites and protecting our planet.

• GREEN PARTY - Natalie Carswell

Where do you stand on Brexit - Leave or Remain? And why?

This election shouldn't be about Brexit! Brexit is a blip in history - we need to talk about the climate crisis above all else! We can reverse Brexit at any point, we can't fix climate change once we're past the tipping point.

Your policy on climate change

We don't have a policy that isn't about climate change. Our manifesto is all about doing the economy, society and life differently. The environment and climate change informs each policy, as it should if we are serious about reversing the effects that are already happening to our planet.

How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?

The Greens' NHS policy is part of our 'Quality of Life' Guarantee so we will be investing hugely in the NHS but also looking at the reasons why there is a rising demand for these services, especially focusing on mental health and wellbeing.

What is your policy on housing?

We want to invest in housing so that we can reduce climate emissions, tackle fuel poverty and provide genuinely affordable housing as well as a commitment to build 100,000 new council homes. We need to build Eco homes. My husband and I built our own eco home and it costs so little to run as well as having a very low carbon footprint.

What are your top three policies other than Brexit?

The key to reducing our impact on the climate is to stop burning fossil fuels and invest in the infrastructure of the future by using renewable energy. Getting rid of the benefits system and introducing a Universal Basic Income - giving people choices and opportunities without shame. Housing -it's a fundamental need which can provide security and a feeling of well-being as well as tackling climate change in a really practical way.

• LABOUR - Jo Oldale 

​​What is your policy on housing?

Everyone has the right to a decent, secure home. But too many people are being denied their right to a good home by a housing system that treats homes as financial assets rather than places to live.

Your policy on climate change

This election is about the crisis of living standards and the climate and environmental emergency. Whether we are ready or not, we stand on the brink of unstoppable change.

Our Green New Deal aims to achieve the substantial majority of our emissions reductions by 2030 in a way that is evidence-based, just and that delivers an economy that serves the interests of the many, not the few.

How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?

We will immediately halt plans for the closure of Poole A&E, maternity and other departments.  We will ensure that plans for hospital reconfiguration in Dorset are reviewed in the context of Labour’s integrated funding and staffing plans for the NHS and Social Care.

• LIBERAL DEMOCRAT - Vikki Slade 

​Where do you stand on Brexit – Leave or Remain? And why?

It’s no secret that I support remaining in the European Union. Whilst I recognise the 2016 referendum, I also believe a lot has changed since then. We have a whole new set of options on the table and a new wealth of knowledge about what ‘leaving’ really means. In 2016, the people voted to Leave but there was no indication of what manner we were going to leave the EU. Therefore, I strongly believe that we should have a People’s Vote to give the public the final decision on whether we still want to Leave, and if so, how. There has also been some confusion with the Liberal Democrat position on this; if we were elected to a majority government this would be a new huge democratic mandate to Revoke Article 50. However, as at this point, we do not expect to be elected to a majority government, and therefore we will continue to strive and fight for a People’s Vote. And if Boris Johnson thinks his deal is so good – why hasn’t he published it with his manifesto so people can actually vote for it?

Your policy on climate change

Climate change is one of our biggest environmental crises. The current government policy of carbon neutral by 2050 is simply not good enough. We do not have the time to wait 30 years. This is one of the most time sensitive issues that we face, and we must not allow this issue to slip under the radar. The Liberal Democrats and I believe that we should seek a policy of 80% renewable energy by 2030, as well as insulating all low-income homes by 2025, to reduce energy use in our houses. Additionally, we have pledged a £100 billion climate fund over the next five years so we can tackle this issue head-on. I am proud to be putting Climate and Ecological Emergency at the centre of local policy making and I will work to make sure it is at the heart of Westminster policymaking too.

How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?

The NHS is one of the UK’s top assets. Our NHS serves each of us and provides us the assurance that it we require medical help or assistance; it’ll be ready and available to us. However, the current government has not provided the funding that it requires. We are also hearing claims that 40 new hospitals will be built, with no clear plan or funding. The Liberal Democrats are going to raise £7 billion a year in additional revenue, ring-fenced for the NHS and social care. This will be generated by a 1p rise on the basic, higher and additional rates of income tax. Additionally, we must do all we can to retain Poole A&E. Every minute counts when it comes to critical health care and the extra journey time to Bournemouth A&E risks this. Unlike the Conservative candidate, I am not convinced that closing Poole A&E would “save lives” and have serious concerns about the impact of longer journey times on people particularly in Purbeck and Poole areas.

What is your policy on housing?

We live in a world where people are unable to find a home in their local area to raise their family. We must ensure that people are able to access affordable housing. But we must be realistic about this. The Liberal Democrats will ensure 300,000 homes are being built per year to meet the current demand. Additionally, we will help finance the large increase in the building of social homes from investment from our £130 billion capital infrastructure budget. Not just this, we need to take action to force developers to build the homes that they have been granted permission for, not just sit on the land until it makes them more profit. We also need to do more to bring empty homes back into use. Together, we can make sure that every family has a house to live in.

What are your top three policies other than Brexit?

This election is more than just Brexit. The MP who you elect on the 12th December will sit in the Commons for the next five years, making decisions on your behalf. My other priorities include the climate crisis, we need to make sure we have a government that understands the extent and scope of this crisis and is prepared to take real action. Rebuilding our communities, local government funding has been cut by 70%, so people don’t have the services and that blanket around them for support – from social care to youth services, buses to highway maintenance. My other priority is our healthcare. We must live in a world where mental health is treated with the same urgency as physical health. And we must ensure that our local healthcare facilities such as Poole A&E stay open and are properly funded.