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.

Prospective MP Vikki Slade and Annette Brooke MP welcomed Nick Clegg to the Cobham's factory in Wimborne.

Commenting on the latest good news on the record number of apprentices being created nationally. Nick Clegg said "“This is a Liberal Democrat policy of which we are very proud. We are now providing more apprenticeships than for more than a generation.”