THERE are just days to go before residents go to the polls in the general election.

With candidates from across the political spectrum standing in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the surrounding areas, the Daily Echo posed the same six questions to each, to see what they would say.

Each was given the opportunity to respond, with word limits for each answer to keep answers to the point.

We will be publishing the answers of every candidate, with candidates for each constituency grouped together.

In the penultimate feature of constituencies on the Daily Echo’s patch, today we publish the answers of those standing for parliament in South Dorset.

Read more from our ask the candidates series: 

CONSERVATIVE: Richard Drax

What is your policy on housing?

To remove many of the existing obstacles, whether they be legacy rules from the EU or unhelpful planning policy. For example, ensuring that new developments have the necessary infrastructure and services. Importantly, new locality tests will ensure social housing is allocated fairly. A new and improved Help to Buy scheme for first-time buyers.

What is your policy on the NHS?

To work with healthcare officials to ensure our existing services are kept and invested in. Manifesto commits to increase NHS spending above inflation annually and to cut bureaucracy. New GP surgeries and Community Diagnostic Centres are pledged. Reform dental contracts and a patient premium to encourage dentist to take on more NHS patients.

(Image: Richard Drax)

What are your top three priorities for the area and why?

Encourage private sector investment, build genuinely affordable homes and reduce the burden of taxation. The first is needed to provide longer term careers and higher incomes. The second is urgent as so-called affordable homes are not affordable. And the third to enable hard-working people to keep more of their money.

What is the biggest change you want to bring to your constituency?

To continue raising the standard of living in an area that is heavily reliant on seasonal hospitality and tourism. Good education is essential at all levels and the proposed merger of Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward is a vital move to ensure our young can continue to learn and move on in life.

What is the biggest issue that residents have raised on the campaign trail?

There is, without doubt, a general concern, not just at the UK’s position, but at the world’s. The pandemic has affected many, especially children. Naturally, despite a welcome fall in inflation, many residents are still struggling. And there’s widespread distrust of politicians and whether their rhetoric equates to the challenges being faced.

How will you split your time between Westminster and your constituency?

The first half of the week is inevitably at Westminster. Constituents concerns are still dealt with. My team and I organise the second half, ensuring I get around the constituency. If my presence was needed in an emergency in that first half, I would drop everything and return to the constituency.

LABOUR: Lloyd Hatton

What is your policy on housing?

I will work with an incoming Labour Government to get Britain building. I want to deliver new homes that young people can actually afford, so they can get on the housing ladder and put down roots. And I want to curb the number of second homes across Dorset. Too often, these properties push up house prices and hollow out communities.

(Image: Lloyd Hatton)

What is your policy on the NHS?

South Dorset deserves world-class healthcare. I will work hand-in-hand with a Labour Government to restore services at our much-loved community hospitals in Swanage, Weymouth and Portland. I will secure additional NHS dentist and GP appointments on our doorstep. Time and again, patients are left waiting weeks for an appointment.

What are your top three priorities for the area and why?

I will work in partnership with businesses, developers and a Labour Government to revitalise our struggling high streets.

I am determined to rebuild our NHS, champion our community hospitals, and cut waiting lists.

And I will defend our local environment - including stopping toxic sewage spills from trashing our cherished Jurassic Coast.

What is the biggest change you want to bring to your constituency?

Our current MP has been invisible for 14 years. I want to be a local champion who will give South Dorset a strong voice in Westminster. Unlike our current MP, I will be visible all-year round and I will stand up for my community. Being your MP will be my only job and my office will be in the heart of our community.

What is the biggest issue that residents have raised on the campaign trail?

My team and I have had thousands of conversations on the doorstep. Constituents have told me that we need a fresh start. And I agree. This chaotic and divided Conservative Government has lost its way. We deserve so much better. That's why I'm standing to be the next Labour MP for my community.

How will you split your time between Westminster and your constituency?

I will live in Weymouth where I was born and raised, and where almost my entire family lives. When I am not working in Westminster, I will be based in the community, listening to you, and making sure that your priorities are my priorities. I will be a visible MP and I will ensure we have a strong voice in Westminster.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: Matt Bell

What is your policy on housing?

South Dorset needs more genuinely affordable homes so that key workers and their families can stay in or move to the area. I will also work alongside Lib Dem led Dorset Council to increase the stock of social homes. We are already committed to achieving this over the coming years.

What is your policy on the NHS?

We will recruit, train and retain more doctors and nurses. The Liberal Democrats would give everyone the right to see their GP within seven days, or within 24 hours if they urgently need to. We must bring back bed space at community hospitals and efficient modern community pharmacies.

(Image: Matt Bell)

What are your top three priorities for the area and why?

My top three priorities are ensuring access to high-quality health and social care within our communities, building genuinely affordable homes to allow young and key workers to stay here and thrive, and protecting our precious and world-class environment and ecology. These are areas I actively campaign on already.

What is the biggest change you want to bring to your constituency?

If elected, I will be an MP who is already part of the community and understands the needs of people in the area through first-hand experience. I will continue to fight campaigns on issues that constituents care about and will respect local views. I will be visible and accountable.

What is the biggest issue that residents have raised on the campaign trail?

Health and social care provision is the biggest issue on the doorstep. I will fight to ensure access to GPs and pharmacies and bring an end to the dentistry desert. I know everyone deserves high quality care when they need it, and we have the bold plans to achieve that.

How will you split your time between Westminster and your constituency?

My home and my daughter’s primary school are both here in South Dorset already, as are my friends and family. This is where I have chosen to build my family’s future and my constituency office will be in the heart of the community. South Dorset will always be my priority.

INDEPENDENT: Joy Heather Wilson

What is your policy on housing?

Dignity for all. I believe in life chances for everyone. We cannot look at the housing crisis, without looking at the family, and our approach to children and the home. With the other multivariable, the housing crisis is made worse by abortion which harms women, compounds oppression and creates unforeseen and costly health and housing consequences including poor mental health outcomes, future preterm delivery, addictions, breast cancer, suicide and infertility. These things can contribute to extra demand for services, curtailed earning potential and other second order effects.

(Image: Joy Wilson)

What is your policy on the NHS?

It’s a crying shame that the NHS pays into the coffers of the multi-million pound abortion industry. I will be looking again to put babies and actual maternal support at the heart of the NHS policy. NHS should not supply state funded abortion which is not healthcare because it is only successful if a human dies. It runs contrary to the Hippocratic oath and harms women.

Access is important and I will be looking to get Swanage hospital reopened to improve local health outcomes.

What are your top three priorities for the area and why?

Take the necessary steps to protect human right to life at all stages of life.

Build a society that consistently values the equality of every individual, without a human first approach, we cannot come up with polices that help not harm in every area.

Remind voters, remember until we start protecting babies in the womb, our country has no future. We are below the replacement demographic rate. The children are our future.

What is the biggest change you want to bring to your constituency?

Defunding the abortion industry redirecting funds to help women, babies, and their families.

To protect babies from fertilisation by repealing the 1967 Abortion Act 3. Reparations for women harmed by the multi-million-pound abortion industry.

What is the biggest issue that residents have raised on the campaign trail?

Numerous residents and every local Christian I have spoken is supportive of speaking up for protection of the unborn this election and making this the number one issue. This regard for human life, is at the heart of how we conduct civil duty and how we treat each other in society.

How will you split your time between Westminster and your constituency?

As a local MP I will ensure regular surgeries with the constituency being paramount. I will listen and address the needs of the people of South Dorset, who by electing me would have made clear the mandate to represent them starting with a people first approach to how we do things, starting with protecting life in the womb.

NO PARTY GIVEN: Rosie Frisby Morrell

What is your policy on housing?

Stabilising the need for housing is essential, so that we no longer need to build more homes, making sure there is the correct mix of housing, in particular affordable homes, we also need to encourage a culture of generations living together this offers emotional support and benefit for the environment.

What is your policy on the NHS?

We will have a dedicated research centre attached to a major British hospital, which is tasked with researching the most efficient ways of running hospitals. It will look for ways of decreasing the amount spent on administrative processes and using this money to provide more doctors and nurses.

(Image: Everyone is God)

What are your top three priorities for the area and why?

Our mission is to solve everything, so our top priority is every issue. All our issues go back to a few fundamental root causes such as lack of accountability in our systems. We are a party that seeks to solve all root causes, and therefore solve every issue, for ever.

What is the biggest change you want to bring to your constituency?

Fundamental changes I want to bring in our constituency are the exact same changes that are required across the entire country, I want to build pride, self-esteem and trust amongst my constituency and British people.

What is the biggest issue that residents have raised on the campaign trail?

People locally seem to speak of constant mistrust and corruption in government. We have a radical policy, transparent banking so that all government, and politicians bank accounts are made publicly visible. If possible, I want to be one of the first MPs to have my bank accounts transparent to re-build trust.

How will you split your time between Westminster and your constituency?

I will respond to the issues presented to me both locally and nationally in Westminster, consider the root causes and solutions to them carefully, and divide my time in such a way as to maximise the benefit I can bring to my constituency and Britain.

INDEPENDENT: Giovanna Elizabeth Lewis

Ms Lewis did not respond to the questions sent by the Daily Echo, but provided the following statement:

Giovanna Lewis, Independent candidate; mother and grandmother; lives in South Dorset; believes there is enough for everyone’s need but not everyone’s greed; campaigns to keep Dorset's NHS services, Stop Portland's proposed incinerator, end the carnage in Gaza - and works for a cohesive community, building bridges between residents and asylum seekers on Portland.

(Image: Giovanna Lewis)

The right people, with the right intention, in the right place can ensure a safe, secure and sustainable world is passed to our children and grandchildren.

Catherine Bennett (Green Party) and Morgan Tara Young (Reform UK) did not send responses through in time for publication.