Vikki Slade - Your Parliamentary Candidate

Vikki Slade has once again been selected to challenge the Conservative MP at the next election.  A committed and passionate campaigner, Vikki is the Leader of the Lib Dems on BCP Council and a member of the Liberal Democrat’s Regional Executive.

Vikki’s background is in financial services and management but she left this industry to work full time in her family business after the birth of her son in 2005. During the 14 years that she ran their catering business and cafe, Vikki became involved in mentoring disadvantaged young people and offered a number of apprenticeships and work placements. She also became involved with a number of community groups, including leading the local Chamber of Trade which not only campaigned for small business issues but ran the town’s community events.  She stood down from this role in 2011 when she was elected to Poole Council.

Following the 2015 election, Vikki and her husband sold their business and she took up a role in the charity sector where she now works, raising the profile of children and adults with disabilities and developing projects to improve their care and support.

As a member of Poole Council, Vikki was involved in a number of projects including Anti-bullying Strategy, scrutinising and improving the standards in Children’s Centres and in social care commissioning, working to improve provision for victims of Domestic Abuse and has been a leading voice on environmental and renewable energy issues.

In May 2019, Vikki was elected as Leader of the BCP Council and formed the 'Unity Alliance' to gain cross-party support for their legislative agenda.

Vikki is proud that during the Liberal Democrats' time in Government they were able to introduce Pupil Premium and high-quality apprenticeships to improve the chances of children and young people.  She is keen to establish a real funding boost for our schools and to promote a wider curriculum so all children can achieve their potential and have the skills for future employment.  As a former businesswoman, she also understands that strong economic growth is vital to everyone in Mid Dorset and North Poole but is keen to ensure this benefits everyone, not just those who are already succeeding.

Vikki has campaigned passionately to protect our NHS in Dorset and will continue to stand up for those who have been let down - especially in the area of mental health and in social care.  She supports both the Liberal Democrat policy of adding 1p to income tax for NHS and Social Care and changing the way social care is funding so this national crisis is dealt with through national funding.

As a committed environmental campaigner, Vikki wants to see the Government and councils do much more on green issues. More renewable energy projects, improved electric car charging, real commitment to sustainable transport solutions, plastic-free and fair trade towns, improved sustainability in homes and community-led power generation will require people power to influence Government.

Vikki understands the conflict we face in the housing crisis - protecting our green belt and countryside whilst providing truly affordable homes, especially for young people.  Vikki is committed to working with communities and supporting Neighbourhood Forums and other groups to find solutions that work for us all.

As a businesswoman, a passionate and feisty campaigner and someone with a reputation for working hard for her local residents, it's no wonder 1000's of residents from Wareham to Wimborne, Bearwood to Bere Regis, are backing Vikki to turn this part of Dorset back to Liberal Democrat Leadership.

Vikki wants to put passion and compassion into politics and campaign on issues that matter to you. If you have 5 minutes, please fill in Vikki Slade's residents' survey by clicking here.