THERE is less than a week to go before residents go to the polls at 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.

Today, we publish the responses from candidates standing in Mid Dorset and North Poole.

Read more from our ask the candidates series: 

CONSERVATIVE: Michael Tomlinson

What is your policy on housing?

We must prioritise building on brownfield sites and protect the greenbelt. We need to make sure that there is housing for people who want it, but that it is in the right place, with the right infrastructure to support it.

What is your policy on the NHS?

We have secured record funding in this area, which includes more than £300 million of capital funding for upgrades to the three major hospitals which serve the people of Mid Dorset and North Poole. And to prioritise Pharmacy First to relieve pressure on our GPs and hospitals.

(Image: Michael Tomlinson)

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

My top priorities are championing education, promoting jobs and investment and upholding law and order. Education is the biggest thing that can make a difference to lives. Over 99 per cent of children in our area are in schools that are good or excellent, but there is more to be done.

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

Projects such as the Wareham level crossing and the Bakers Arms roundabout are some of my top priorities. But the main thing I want to see in our area is stability, building on our successes and continuing improvements in local education, creating an environment where families and businesses can thrive.

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

I have had conversations about everything from immigration and education to health and housing. All of us in the community have been through a tough time, there’s no two ways about it. But with the economy just starting to turn the corner, we do not want to start over now.

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

As when I was an MP, I will be in Westminster when the House of Commons is sitting; and racing to get home to my family and community in Dorset when it is not! There is a fine balance between speaking up in Westminster and listening carefully here at home.

LABOUR: Candice Johnson-Cole

What is your policy on housing?

Labour is committed to building 1.5 million new homes by cutting through planning red tape while delivering new infrastructure and green space. We will also stand up for renters and help first time buyers with a Freedom to Buy scheme.

What is your policy on the NHS?

We’ll bring the NHS back to the days when it had a satisfaction rating of over 70 per cent and waiting lists were at an all-time low. We will provide 40,000 extra appointments per week, double NHS scanners so we can catch cancer early, and end dentistry deserts.

(Image: Candice Johnson-Cole)

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

Easing the cost-of-living burden, because our communities are really feeling it. Pushing for growth, so we can support our public services, because 14 years of cuts have brought many services to their knees. Securing a Labour government because MDNP deserves better than five more years of Tory chaos.

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

If we, the Labour Party, are awarded the privilege to form the next government, I will work tirelessly to make sure the people of Mid-Dorset and North Poole are represented by a strong, local MP.

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

Please allow me two answers as it depends on where I am in Mid-Dorset and North Poole! Definitely the cost of living and the NHS.

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

MDNP has been my home for over 23 years. I’ve lived here and worked in Westminster all that time, so I know how to make the most of my time when in Westminster. I will also take advantage of the House of Commons IT and I’m going for a 65/35 split in favour of being right here.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: Vikki Slade

What is your policy on housing?

I would prioritise brownfield sites with significant truly affordable/social housing included. We would control second homes and ensure sufficient infrastructure in place before homes are occupied. Rent to Own would allow tenants to use their rent to build a stake in their home, and new rights for tenants brought in.

(Image: Vikki Slade)

What is your policy on the NHS?

Increase the public health grant to focus on health inequalities and prevention, focus on GP primary care so people can be cared for in the community. Train more cancer nurses and invest in radiotherapy machines to increase survival rates, provide mental health professionals in schools and boost hospice funding.

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

Dentistry. Dorset is a dental desert yet the NHS budget is underspent. The contract needs urgent change so the dentists here return to NHS work SEND , children with special needs are let down by current school system. Environment,  we should expect clean rivers and sea and protect trees from destruction.

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

Our area has been let down with an MP who is not visible and has not stood up for the area. I want to make sure our residents voices are heard in Parliament and they can rely on me to champion Dorset, close the gap between the generations and rich/poor.

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

Everything is broken, nothing works any more. People do not feel that anything will change but they know that they have had enough of the current Government and are willing to try something new.

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

My focus is on winning the trust of residents and I will consider the logistics once the outcome and the commitments and timetables are known. MDNP is my home so whenever there is no reason to be in Westminster I will be embedded in our community serving the local constituents.

GREEN PARTY: Ben Pantling

What is your policy on housing?

The Green Party is the only major party willing to address the housing crisis. We need to end property as a means of wealth creation, everyone has the right to access a home. We will, introduce rent controls, end all no-fault evictions and build 150,000 new council houses a year.

What is your policy on the NHS?

We will fund the NHS to levels needed to allow everyone to access the services needed. We would achieve this with the introduction of a new tax to the wealthiest in society. We’d remove all private businesses from the NHS, people’s ill health is not an opportunity to make money.

(Image: Darren Jones)

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

Access to leisure. We have an abundance of natural resources & facilities, but they are underutilised.

Transport. A good bus network in towns, but it is sparse in rural areas. It should be the cheapest option, to encourage increased usage

Crime. Anti-social behaviour & violence is on the increase.

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

A legacy of bringing the community together, young and old, wealthy and those struggling. With a theme of the common good and making everyone’s lives better, through a better understand of our differences, but also our strengths. So, everyone feels involved, with no one on the outside looking in.

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

It has been surprisingly or unsurprisingly varied. The three most common issues are peace in Gaza, the climate crisis and parliamentary/voting reform (proportional representation).

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

I intend to commute to London on the train, the days I need to, three to four days a week when Parliament is in session. I will make use of the many communal workspaces we have available across the constituency to carry out the role needed by many in the local community.

SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY: John Dowling

What is your policy on housing?

The SDP would establish a British Housing Corporation to build 100,000 social homes nationally per year, these will not be built on green belt.

Eventually tenants will be able to buy, provided profit is used to build replacement homes for rent.

What is your policy on the NHS?

The SDP will train the many qualified Britons to fully satisfy NHS demand for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.

This would prevent stealing doctors from developing countries.

A National Care Service would be established to ensure hospital beds are not 'blocked'.

(Image: John Dowling)

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

Do not build on green belt [solar panels on roofs only].

Ensure new houses are affordable in terms of purchase price or rent for every income bracket.

Insist that services such as schools and dentists, etc, increase in proportion to new development.

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

I do not want Dorset to be over developed.

We live in a beautiful county and we must fight to preserve its beauty.

It is essential that we maintain a green belt for food production, wildlife conservation and human health.

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

The delays in obtaining NHS appointments and treatment is by far the biggest concern.

An example is NHS dentistry. This seems to have disappeared so what are we paying for?

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

I live in the constituency so would naturally spend a lot of time in Dorset.

In this way I would be well placed to represent the constituency.

I would spend as much time in Parliament as necessary to get the best for my constituency.