Just EIGHT votes separated the winning Conservative from Liberal Democrat challenger Dave Took in East Dorset District Council's recent Alderholt By-election.

Dorset's Liberal Democrats came within just 8 votes of winning the recent EDDC by-election having not contested the seat since 2008.

“Rise in unexpected deaths at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust show mental health services are being underfunded,” – Mid Dorset and North Poole Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson Vikki Slade.

There has been 31 per cent rise in serious incidents at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust including 39 unexpected deaths and suicides in two years.

The figures from NHS England were unearthed by the Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Norman Lamb, and cover serious incidents reported between 2012-2013 and 2014-2015.

Wow! In just a matter of weeks, over 2,500 residents have signed the petition to say 'No!' to Poole Council's plan to demolish the roundabout and traffic lights installed on the Gravel Hill/Dunyeats Road junction.

The roundabout junction that joins Gravel Hill and Dunyeats Road could be demolished and traffic lights put in instead. Residents fear that this would result in even longer queues at rush hour times along both roads.

Residents of Canford Heath, Broadstone, Merley and Wimborne are shocked at the Conservative led council’s proposal to replace the Gravel Hill roundabout with traffic lights. 

The roundabout junction that joins Gravel Hill and Dunyeats Road could be demolished and traffic lights put in instead. Residents fear that this would result in even longer queues at rush hour times along both roads.

Annette Brooke has been made a Dame in the dissolution honours list.

Annette is the longest serving female Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament in history and has served the Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency tirelessly since she was first elected in 2001 right up until she retired earlier this year.

The Liberal Democrats have elected Tim Farron to be their new leader.

After fantastic campaigns from the two candidates, nearly 34,000 members voted in the leadership election - Tim Farron received 19,137 votes and in second place Norman Lamb received the backing of 14,760 people. 

Tim said, "To say it is an honour is an understatement of epic proportions."

Liberal Democrat leadership hopeful, Tim Farron, visited Broadstone last week to listen to local members and supporters as part of his mini tour of the Western Counties.

In his bid to become leader of the party, he spoke passionately on a number of topics including Britain’s housing crisis, climate change and poverty.

Today Vikki Slade urged the people of Mid Dorset and North Poole to back a Liberal Democrat campaign to save the Human Rights Act.

So far more than 25,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Conservatives to scrap plans to abandon our commitment to human rights.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was in the constituency again yesterday to support candidate Vikki Slade and to highlight the party’s key education policies on a visit to Tops Day Nursery, Blandford Road.