MPs

You can put no price on freedom

No one will have failed to have noticed the Cost-ofLiving crisis that is taking hold. I use initial capital letters because I think it is a serious economic event that is taking place. There are thousands of people who do not remember interest rates and inflation at anything other than very low single digits. As mortgage and credit card payments creep up, this undoubtedly will be felt. Older hands will not be as shocked. The rising prices we are all seeing in commodities, fuel and food are not unique to the UK. They seem to be being faced in all advanced economies. While the horror of Russia’s bestial actions in Ukraine is adding to the economic pressures, I am firm in my assessment that our

Conservative MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

resolve in defeating Putin should in no way be weakened by concerns of economic impact at home. My view is clear: you can put no price on freedom.

So, we recently saw the chancellor start to layout policies to try to address the pressures being faced. He is sensible to point out two things: first, we are all going to feel some pain and second no chancellor can help everyone on every issue. I warmly welcome the reduction in fuel duty – for rural North Dorset the car is an essential rather than a luxury. I welcome too the VAT zero rating on domestic energy efficiency investments. I support the Government in its twin ambitions of weaning our economy off Russian oil and gas and putting our foot hard to the floor to deliver Net Zero. Domestically produced renewable energy will deliver the energy security we desperately need. I know from my experience as a local councillor that it is often local government that knows where help is most needed and best targeted, so it was a good move to increase funding to local government to help local communities.

Could Rishi have done more? Yes. Could he have done nothing/less? In theory yes but he is not that sort of chancellor. As his response to Covid demonstrated, he is prepared to use all the levers at his disposal to mitigate and support. I know many thought he could have gone further but I have no hesitation in thinking that the Spring Statement was the start of a process and that, if it is needed (which I fear it will be), there will be further interventions to help the country get through this.

Going for green

Local MP Andrew Murrison joined organiser Chris Harwood and volunteers to plant saplings and whips in Wardour near Tisbury at the weekend. The project aims to establish a wood of mixed indigenous trees. Andrew said;

“Congratulations to Chris and the volunteers and many thanks to the landowner and the garden centres that generously gave the plants.

“Tree planting is a vote of confidence in the future since it’ll be our children and grandchildren rather than ourselves enjoying their shade.

“I hope there will be more and more small scale plantings like this. What better way to mark Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee.”

A35 road safety

Improvements continue to be rolled out across the A35 following pressure from West Dorset MP Chris Loder, whose A35 Taskforce led the way for a comprehensive overhaul of road safety on West Dorset’s primary trunk road.

Monkey’s Jump Roundabout is due for the final programme of works to be complete by the end of this month. The MP’s A-Roads Taskforce, launched in April last year, has applied pressure to National Highways to remediate the flooding and safety issues along the A35, including potholes, white lines, reflective studs and signage.

Mr Loder said: “We have seen so many accidents along this road in recent years, and previously the A35 has been left behind in terms of strategic ambition. I am very pleased to see the A35 is now getting the investment and safety improvement it needs”

The Phase 2 works at Monkey’s Jump Roundabout will future-proof earlier drainage works and provide landscaping to improve the aesthetic of the county town’s gateway roundabout. Additional works include remediating the flooding at Max Gate and “Enhanced Maintenance Activities” along the A35 from Bridport to Axminster to optimise visibility of signage and markings. All projects are anticipated to be completed by the end of the month, after which Mr Loder will be expecting the Duchy of Cornwall to also complete their committed road improvements.

MPs’ round-up

Liberal Democrat voters across the Vale express support for Ukraine

During the course of telephone contact with Liberal Democrat members across the Vale over recent weeks, the following thoughts and views have surfaced. Although these thoughts do not reflect any kind of party line – nor are they a complete reflection of Lib Dem views on Ukraine – there is a consistency of concern for individuals, an international outlook and a condemnation of the aggressor. We are all concerned about the plight of the Ukrainian people and stand ready to do what we can to help, if only to voice those concerns publicly.

“We need to stand with our friends in Ukraine in every way we can and show Putin that he will not succeed.”

“This is usually the most hopeful time of the year. How sad that man’s inhumanity to man is on display yet again.”

“We must not let one man’s vanity derail the action needed worldwide on carbon, on food, on poverty, on disease.”

“I have offered the use of half of my house for a Ukranian mother and child. I only rattle around in it now my own children have left. I feel very energised about this.”

“All the geopolitics, the East/West confrontation leaves me cold. All I see are the frightened eyes of so many children and the steely eyes of so many Ukranians staying behind to fight.”

“It would be easy to criticise the Government about the slowness and meanness of our response to the refugee situation but I am so glad we are helping in many other ways with money and materials.”

“Ich bin ein Kyiver, or however you say it in Ukrainian.”

“We used to call this sort of thing ‘Gunboat Diplomacy’ and ‘Might is Right’ so we ought to be careful about calling the Russian samovar black. We can at least say that we have learned our lesson and that empires are not good things. The idea of imposing your culture on another people is now, frankly, disgusting”

“I simply don’t understand the calculation: if Putin wins, he gains an enduring problem and Russia loses for generations; if it is a draw, he is weakened, probably terminally in the longer run; if he gains nothing, he is likely toast.”

“It is an obvious point and I take no particular pleasure in making it but we as a nation and we as a continent and we as liberal democracies are so much stronger, so much better off together.”

“Well done Sir Ed, getting yourself out to Poland to take a look-see, feet on the ground. Not sure how many other leaders have done that as yet.”

Tackling traffic issues in Dorset

On 17 March, a notice from Dorset Council was issued for the closure of the A30 in Sherborne to continue until September 2023 with it already having been closed for almost six weeks, including the adjacent Cornhill. The situation has been complex and having seen the notice to extend the closure for 18 months, I have directly intervened as I know this has caused huge disruption for thousands of people with these roads being closed. It has also generated many safety concerns for the residents of Sherborne, who have had to contend with the resultant

Conservative MP for West Dorset Chris Loder

Cornhill road reopened to relieve the local traffic in and around Sherborne. Dorset Council will only consider that if the Sherborne Dorset councillors support a reevaluation, so I have written to Cllr Matt Hall to ask him to support it after 700 local people petitioned me to ease the traffic pressure on Trendle Street, North Road, St Swithin’s Road and Long Street. Cornhill can be reopened for local traffic in my opinion. As this is a Dorset Council matter, they will only consider the reopening of Cornhill for local traffic when the elected Dorset councillors support it.

Secondly, after this notice of potential closure for a further 18 months, I have also become involved with the Kitt Hill closure to find a solution to a very complex situation where a vehicle struck a wall and drove off. I’m confident that progress will now be made and we should see the A30 in Sherborne reopening shortly – fingers crossed!

It will mean that Sherborne will be able to get back to some sort of normality, the shops in Cheap Street will see a boost in business and the council will remove the block on the Sunday Market too!