Monthly resident update

Hi Reader

Welcome to the my regular email newsletter, it's been another busy month both in Westminster and on my visits around constituency.

The Assisted Dying Bill

The second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill took place on Friday 29th November. It was an historic day in British politics and saw a passionate, emotional and respectful debate for over 5 hours after which MPs voted 330 to 275 to allow the Bill to pass to the next stage for further scrutiny.

I was honoured to be one of a small number of MPs to be able to speak on the subject. You can watch my contribution by visiting the News/in Parliament section of my website.

I received nearly 700 emails on this topic as well as numerous other forms of correspondence in the lead up to the debate with a broadly balanced mix of those for and those against the proposed legislation. I am humbled by those that shared really personal experiences with me, I know that this must have been really difficult to do.

I know that for a great deal of people, some I mentioned in my speech, the vote was a great step forward in allowing terminally ill, mentally sound individuals the autonomy to decide to end their own, in many cases, unendurable suffering. For others I recognise this is a disruption in the status quo and that there are those that don't feel adequate safeguards are yet in place within the Bill to ensure that this legislation, if passed, will not be abused.

I know how important this Bill is to so many people, and I will continue to read and consider views from residents and groups across Mid Dorset and North Poole as we move through the process.

50:50 Parliament

50:50 Parliament is an initiative aiming to get a better gender balance across politics at all levels.

I was fortunate enough to have been asked by the former MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole, Dame Annette Brooke, to stand, but without that, I would probably not be representing you today.

The position in Parliament has improved since Annette's days but still only 40% of MPs are women and the position is even worse at a local council level.

So if you know a woman in your local community who is already showing leadership qualities, why not encourage them to stand for office. You never know where it may lead.

Parliament Week, School visits and more.....

Parliament Week took place between 18-24 November and provided an opportunity for schools and uniformed groups to engage with Parliament and MPs to help them get an understanding of what we do.

I was able to meet with schools in Westminster, visit 3 schools locally and send a video message to Broadstone Beavers.

I am continuing to tour the area visiting as many schools as possible so if you would like me to pop in and either discuss any issues or just meet the pupils, please contact me on vikki.slade.mp@parliament.uk

Business Rates are killing our High Streets

When I was the owner of a cafe in Broadstone, Business Rates were a constant problem. The system of Business Rates is related not only to the rateable value but also the rental value. It bears no relationship to the type of business, its profitability or its broader benefits to the community or to society.

The rent on our cafe was £25,000 a year and our rate bill was £19,000. This meant I was not eligible for a penny of small business rate relief, so my rent and rates bill was around £4,200 a month. In a ward less than three miles away, a similar cafe on their high street was paying significantly less rent and rates which meant that due to small business rate relief, they paid no rates and their fixed outgoings was £1,900.

That's the problem with the way Business Rates work and this inequity and the pressure it put on my business and all those I represented when I was chair of the Broadstone Chamber of Trade and Commerce is what got me into politics,

Many councils are not able to keep the business rates that are accrued in their areas. They are set

externally, they are sent elsewhere to support other communities, and this is something that is not understood or even appreciated by local communities.

The Lib Dems want Labour to go further with reforming the system of Business Rates. We want Business Rates replaced with a proper landowners levy so that it's not the tenants who are paying, but those who really benefit from the property, which is the people who own it.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance day is a special time as an MP.

We get to pay our respects in Westminster in the House of Commons Gardens of Remembrance.

I was also able to visit many of the War Memorials in Mid Dorset & North Poole to lay my tributes, followed by taking part in the Remembrance events in Broadstone, Wimborne and Corfe Mullen.

Family Farm Tax

The Agricultural Property Relief issue is of considerable significance across Mid Dorset & North Poole.

The 'Family Farm Tax', as it has become known, will hurt thousands of families across the UK with farms that are worth a lot on paper, but who are earning less than the minimum wage. They have endured cuts to their incomes while the cost of energy, fertiliser and feed bills has soared.

To pay this new inheritance tax bill, many farmers will be forced to sell their farms, likely to private equity firms and large corporations who have no interest in looking after our countryside.

This is a move that will reduce food production and undermine food security. And it will harm our environment, by taking land away from those who have nurtured it for generations.

The government has previously said that 27% of farms will be affected which could ring the “death knell” for local family farms.

If 27% of our local farms in Mid Dorset & North Poole were to be caught by these changes, that would mean 52 farmers would be hit so I have called on the government to scrap the “family farm tax” and take up Liberal Democrat proposals to put forward an additional £1 billion a year in support for farmers.

I was pleased to be able to join farmers from Mid Dorset & North Poole at the NFU Mass Lobby in Westminster recently, I have met with a number of farmer to discuss the issue and will continue to do what I can, through interventions in Parliament, to speak up for our rural communities and farmers.”

Ukraine

I had two opportunities last Month to speak in the House on the subject of Ukraine.

I host a Ukrainian refugee so am very familiar with the issues being faced by those who have made it here and those left behind.

One issue is the question of visas and whether family members will ever be able to join them. The Foreign Secretary confirmed that we have a very deep relationship with the people of Ukraine and that we will continue to stand up to tyranny and that we will continue to do that in support of those people affected by this awful conflict.

Click here to see my question in Parliament

Puppy Smuggling Update

I am co-sponsor of Danny Chambers Private Members Bill to crack down on the pet-smuggling trade.

The government has confirmed its support for the Bill which would make it more difficult and less profitable for traders to fraudulently import animals for sale by passing them off as pets travelling with their owners.

Kingston Lacy

I spent a lovely afternoon meeting the team at Kingston Lacy to learn more about their work decarbonising the estate including a new heat pump heating system showing how it's possible to integrate modern renewable energy technologies in the setting to a Grade 1 listed mansion - saving 30,000 litres of oil each year.

Christmas is a special time at Kingston Lacy, the house is beautifully decorated, there is a vintage carousel, the Christmas wishes trail and storytelling with Santa. You can find out more about Christmas at Kingston Lacy by clicking here.

Surgeries

I have held many face to face advice surgeries in the last few weeks, meeting a number of residents to discuss issues such as the Post Office scandal, domestic violence, child maintenance and mental health provision for young adults within Mid Dorset & North Poole amongst other things.

Another major issue to come up was the flooding following the recent storms and I am working hard to hold developers to account to ensure they are doing enough to mitigate the flood risk to newly built homes.

Round-up of some of my other activities

Joined a PETA event with Jamie Bamber to call for an end to Experiments on Animals
Spoke in Chamber about Autism training for teachers and fees for ‘part time’ university courses.
Contributed to the Fuel Debate in Westminster Hall, sharing the experiences of constituents.
Visited Specsavers Wimborne to learn more about their work on vision, eye health and audiology.
Met with Action Before Crisis to learn more about their visionary work on teenage poverty.
Spent two days with the Royal Navy at commando training centre.
Asked the Minister to ensure NHS Dorest ring-fences the £9m underspend in Dentistry.
Caught up with staff and constituents at the Lush event in Parliament.
Supported the call for mandatory Dementia training for the Social Care workforce.
Attended the Sands UK and Tommy’s event on inequality in baby loss.
Met with Blue Cross team to talk about responsible dog ownership.
Attended the Diverse Abilities gala ball, an inspirational charity for disabled children & adults.
Met members of BCP Youth Parliament to hear about their campaign priorities.

I also visited Castle Court and Magna Academy to talk about my work as an MP.
Asked the Foreign Secretary for assurance on the right of our Ukranian guests to remain in the UK.
Met with farmers from MDNP to hear concerns about the Agricultural Property Relief issue.
Supported Oceana in Parliament to learn more about oil spills and safe fishing.
Joined the community pharmacy event to learn more about how to best support local pharmacies.
Met with NHS England to hear about virtual ward initiatives.
Attended the Fur Free Britain event, pledging to champion legislation to ban the import & sale of fur.
Supported, but raised concerns during the Tobacco and Vapes Bill during a Westminster Hall debate.
Talked to Battersea, RPSCA and Blue Cross to support their goal to ban shock collars.
Discussed the Assisted Dying Bill on BBC Radio Solent and Heart News
Joined events about better teaching and ending youth homelessness, agreeing to incorporate their concerns into parliamentary business.

My Resident Surgeries

I run a number of surgeries each month at various locations across Mid Dorset & North Poole.

To attend, I'm afraid you do need an appointment so if you want to come and speak to me, please email me on vikki.slade.mp@parliament.uk and my team be in touch.

That's it for this month! I'll keep in touch with updates on all things MDNP.

Regards