Ahead of the General Election next week, we've asked the candidates for each constituency five identical questions.
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 South Dorset had to say.
- CONSERVATIVES - Richard Drax
Where do you stand on Brexit – Leave or Remain? And why?
I believe we should honour our democratic vote in June 2016 and restore trust in Parliament by leaving the EU. Now that there’s a deal, which allows us to control our laws, money, borders and our fishing waters, while co-operating as good neighbours with the EU, it’s time to move on and get our country back.
Your policy on climate change?
I support building nuclear power stations, planting trees, encouraging energy conservation in homes, businesses and transport, increasing research into carbon-capture and storage in the North Sea, hydroelectric power and increasing research into nuclear fusion.
How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?
I will continue to fight for our hospitals, call for more doctors and nurses and push for more investment in mental health and social care.
What is your policy on housing?
I'll continue to campaign for a radical shake-up of housing provision, together with planning, not least to ensure that so-called affordable homes really are affordable, while supporting giving tenants more security of tenure, scrapping tenancy fees and capping deposits. I do support social housing and only building in the greenbelt where locally elected councillors agree to it.
What are your top three policies other than Brexit?
Generating more skilled jobs is a priority. I’ve been fighting for fairer funding for our historically underfunded schools. As a former soldier, I strongly support the Armed Forces and veterans, investing in our police and prison service and protecting our emergency workers.
- GREEN PARTY - DR Jon Orrell
Where do you stand on Brexit – Leave or Remain? And why?
I think the EU needs reform to focus on climate emergency and economic justice and remaining to achieve this. I fear Brexit is not taking back control but rather surrendering to Trump and greedy American corporations.
Your policy on climate change?
This is the crisis facing our nation and survival. We have been distracted by bickering whilst the planet burns. Climate change is an emergency; it should be treated with the urgency of a war or bank crisis with a Green New Deal.
How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?
I will restore NHS funding to the level of our neighbours. I would scrap privatisation and ban American firms from cherry-picking profits from lucrative parts of our NHS. I'd urgently train more nurses and doctors and remove tuition fees to do this.
What is your policy on housing?
The private sector has failed. We need a massive programme of social housing for our young people to be able to live locally. New homes must be of high insulation standard with renewable heating built in ( solar, heat pumps) . I would only permit community land trusts and genuine local social housing on new land.
What are your top three policies other than Brexit?
Climate emergency, climate emergency, climate emergency.
- LABOUR - Carralyn Parkes
Where do you stand on Brexit- Leave or Remain? And why?
Boris's Brexit deal will throw the country off a cliff and, as a nation, we are deeply divided. The only sensible option now is to negotiate a deal that doesn't harm our economy, and have a public vote, with 'Remain', and 'Leave with a Deal' as options, and let the people decide.
Your policy on climate change.
Our Green Industrial Revolution will reduce our carbon footprint, and create much needed high-skilled jobs and meaningful apprenticeships in South Dorset in the green energy sector. Our plans to nationalise rail, and regulate buses so that all communities have access to affordable, reliable public transport will mean that people will use their cars less, saving fuel, and making the air that we breathe in our towns cleaner.
How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?
Labour will invest in the NHS, recruiting nurses and doctors, and pay them properly. We will stabilise our overstretched A&E departments and halt bed cuts and abolish prescription charges.
What is your policy on housing?
Access to affordable homes with secure tenancies is a major issue for people in South Dorset. Labour will scrap 'no fault' evictions, control rents for private renters, and give councils new powers to enforce standards in the private rented sector.
What are you top three policies other than Brexit?
The National Education Service, providing education opportunities for people of all ages, raising minimum wages to £10 an hour, and provide community based free personal care, funding social care packages for people with complex needs.
- Lib Dem - Nick Ireland
Where do you stand on Brexit – Leave or Remain? And why?
"Remain; the best deal we can have with the EU is the one we have now. Brexit will not only restrict growth and reduce the amount we can spend on doing the things that really matter, but impact directly on the NHS, the building trade and many other industries."
Your policy on climate change?
"Climate change is already having an impact on our coastal communities and we need to act immediately to reduce its effect on our children and future generations. The Liberal Democrats have a proud record of taking action both locally and nationally and our commitment to achieving carbon net zero is evident in our plans."
How will you be helping the NHS if you are elected?
"Stopping Brexit! We need to invest more in the service and ensure it is fully staffed ; we will do this by restoring the bursary for nurses, training more doctors, investing £35bn and ensuring the the NHS remains an employer of choice for both the existing EU staff that it so heavily relies on and for those who may wish to invest their careers in Britain's health service."
What is your policy on housing?
"Government needs to build a copious amount of housing at pace, both private and social. Housing needs to be affordable both to obtain and to occupy; restoring the requirement to build net carbon zero homes which was scrapped by the Tories is just one of the many policies that we'll make happen. Building on brownfield sites is clearly the preferred option in many areas but using green-belt will be unavoidable if we are to satisfy the shortfall in housing availability."
What are your top three policies other than Brexit?
"Fund our public services, invest in our children's futures, reform our politics."
- INDEPENDENT - Joseph Green - We were unable to contact Mr Green
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