It is true that, in Poole, we have less than a dozen people at any one time sleeping rough and while that is 12 people too many it is only the tip of the iceberg.  The plight of rough sleepers should bring shame on us all, you can see people turn away as the dishevelled looking person asks for the price of a cup of tea.  They are making assumptions – that they are an addict, that the money will be spent on alcohol or that they must have done something awful to end up on the streets.

Earlier in March, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg visited Dorset to join Prospective MP Vikki Slade and Annette Brooke MP at an event to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The event was attended by women in a number of professions including business owners, teachers, NHS staff, third-sector workers and students to discuss what the Government should be doing to support women in achieving their potential.

The Government's Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb MP visited Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne at the invitation of prospective MP Vikki Slade to deliver a talk on mental health and find out about the mental health illnesses that some young people face.

Leading Mental Health care and service providers for the Dorset area also attended to share their perspective on government policy and ask Norman Lamb questions about future policies. These included professionals from Dorset County Council Children's Services, Dorset Mind, CAMHS, Mosaic, Dorset Police and local youth groups.

Today, Thursday 5th February is Time To Talk Day; a national day where everyone is asked to take five minutes to have a conversation about mental health.

During my adult life there has probably only been half a dozen years when I haven't either been under the care of the community mental health team, receiving some sort of talking therapy or taking medication for mental health conditions.

A crucial lifeline has been thrown to post offices in Mid Dorset and North Poole thanks to a major Government contract.

The deal, unveiled by Liberal Democrat pensions minister Steve Webb, offers support to disabled people and the elderly while also helping to protect the future of the post office network.

It guarantees until 2022 the future of the Post Office Card Account system which ensures people without a bank account can receive benefits and tax credits.

Conservatives will cut the education budget by £120 million in Dorset and Poole by 2020 if they were in Government on their own, official research shows. The Tories would be forced to slash local spending on schools, colleges and nurseries to keep pace with George Osborne’s drastic spending cuts plan.

It means £83 million would be wiped off schools’ funding in Dorset and Poole – hitting children’s life chances.

Disadvantaged primary school pupils in Dorset and Poole are set to receive £15.53 million (Dorset £11.19m; Poole £4.34m) to boost attainment, the Liberal Democrats have announced.

The pupil premium funding for 2015/16 will help teachers support those children at most risk of falling behind their colleagues.It means primary schools will receive £1,320 for every pupil who has registered for free school meals at any time in the last six years.

Watch Lib Dem candidate Vikki Slade find out how the Liberal Democrat policy for Free School Meals is helping our children to reach their full potential by visiting a school in Canford Heath.

The Liberal Democrats have taken the first step in reforming the Bedroom Tax by winning a crucial vote in Parliament. Lib Dem MP, Andrew George presented the Affordable Housing Bill to the House of Commons and following an intense three hour debate, the Lib Dems triumphed. 

During the debate Tim Farron MP praised Mid Dorset and North Poole's Prospective MP Vikki Slade for campaigning for reforms to the bedroom tax. Tim commented "Vikki has led the way in the Liberal Democrats with objecting to the unfairness of the Bedroom Tax; her motion to conference showed she really listened to people and is on their side in developing a fair and sensible policy."

A petition with over 1300 signatures from local people was presented to Poole Borough Council recently calling to 'prohibit the culling of badgers on council-owned land'. Despite being in opposition, Liberal Democrat Councillors narrowly won the vote to prohibit the culling of badgers against Conservative Councillors who do not support the local ban.