Private SEND schools receiving council funding aren’t required to tell councils if they have places available — unlike state schools. This can cause long delays for children needing support. I’ve asked the Health Secretary how we can create a fairer system that puts children first.
04.03.2026 18:31 — 👍 6 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
With 520 million children living in conflict zones last year, according to the Peace Research Institute Oslo, I asked the Minister what action this Government is taking to protect children from the horrors of war and the lifelong trauma it causes.
Sadly, the response fell short.
Today I challenged the Prime Minister on Trumps justification for attacks on Iran
There is no doubt that this was an evil regime led by a despot but international law exists so nations cannot take law into their own hands.
MPs will continue to insist that UK is not dragged into an illegal war
Hosted Dorset Day in Parliament, where we celebrated everything that makes our county special. From fantastic Dorset producers to the Mayor of Wimborne, we brought the best of the country and put it firmly on the map Co-sponsored a Bill to nominate the UK’s chalk streams as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and signed a letter urging DEFRA to strengthen protections Raised concerns in Parliament after meeting QE and Corfe Hills parents, pressing for funding to reach students and staff, not Trust executives Spoke at the Dorset TESTBED Summit, an event focusing on conservation, farming and partnerships to advance environmental research in Dorset Visited the Royal School of Artillery on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to better understand their role and capabilities Attended a Purbeck healthcare meeting, discussing shared care, GP funding and updates on Wareham Hospital’s chemotherapy clinic Met with QE’s Headteacher to discuss staff cuts and raise parents’ concerns Following the meeting I held my second Student Surgery at QE, engaging with students on whether social media should be banned for under-16s Met NHS Dorset’s dental lead to discuss exciting plans for urgent and complex care and proposals to guarantee NHS dental care for all children Spoke with Refuge to discuss the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy Met Cycling UK to advance my campaign for secure cycle storage at stations
Another busy week representing Dorset in Westminster and helping constituents.
If there’s anything I can help with, email me at - vikki.slade.mp@parliament.uk
I was delighted to host Dorset Day in Parliament alongside Edward Morello MP, putting our county firmly on the map in Westminster.
The event brought together Dorset producers, local representatives and parliamentarians to showcase our thriving businesses, food, drink and culture.
After speaking in Parliament earlier this month, my speech was posted online and has received over 1M views and over 5K comments. I have now secured a Ministerial meeting & a local roundtable so we can push for law change to ensure children are fully supported After hearing concerns from parents and staff at QE and Corfe Hills schools following recent budget saving announcements, I hosted two meetings on Friday to learn more about how they feel the changes will impact students I backed my party’s proposal to treat SEND as “Critical National Infrastructure” ahead of the Government’s White Paper, giving Ministers powers to prevent profit being prioritised over children After receiving pleas for help from British-Canadian constituents, I joined colleagues in writing to the Home Office to pause planned changes to visas & I'm working to help find a solution so they can travel Following concerns from patients about GPs withdrawing from Shared Care Agreements, I have written to the Minister, Dorset ICB and Wessex LMC to investigate, as I believe this may breach equality legislation After receiving multiple complaints about mail delivery delays in Wimborne and across the constituency, I wrote to the Royal Mail’s regional office seeking answers and pressing for improvements After launching my petition for secure cycle storage at SWR railway stations, I extended my campaign across the UK through an amendment to the Railways Bill and met with various organisations offering support
Parliament was in recess last week, so I focused on constituency casework and progressing key local projects.
Here’s some of what I’ve been working on.
If there’s anything I can help with, email me at - vikki.slade.mp@parliament.uk
After meeting parents from QE and Corfe Hills about recent staffing announcements, I’ll be raising their concerns with school leaders.
Yesterday I raised the issue in Parliament, pressing so funding reaches students and staff instead of executives.
I held my first Student Surgery at Lytchett School, asking whether social media should be banned for under-16s. Many disagreed, and that’s the point.
It was fantastic to see students engaging in an issue that affects them. I’ll be taking Student Surgeries to more schools soon.
I had the pleasure of meeting some of Dorset’s military wives to discuss issues linked to the Armed Forces Covenant that are making life harder than it should be for military families; issues I raised and will continue to raise in Parliament.
We’re also planning a fundraiser. More details to come.
It was fantastic to welcome students from Magna Academy Sixth Form to Parliament.
I really enjoyed hearing their views and watching them debate key issues with confidence. We also held a Q&A session, where my only rule is simple, I will answer every question honestly.
After visiting Rushcombe First School, I’ve invited the Schools Minister to visit.
Their “Learning Adventures” approach brings the curriculum to life. Children are engaged; teachers love teaching.
It shows there’s a more creative, child-focused way that the education system should learn from.
Vikki with Muriel, Victoria and Bernadette drying off in the pub between downpours in Bournemouth holding Lib Dem canvass leaflets
Delivering in the damp this morning, Canvassing in the rain this afternoon … just another @libdems.org.uk sunday!
08.02.2026 16:32 — 👍 12 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
A constituent from Sturminster Marshall wrote to me “The NHS have refused to undertake what a few years ago would have been a routine investigation and check for cancer. We have had to pay privately for skin cancer surgery for my mother, and we have had to pay privately to obtain satisfactory investigation and treatment for my mother's other long-term conditions. “ It's wrong that people are being forced to pay for treatments they need. Liberal Democrats would provide the reforms and financial support required to mean you don't need to get private healthcare.
This week was World Cancer Day and the launch of the National Cancer Strategy.
I hear every week from residents where cancer care isn’t working.
We need far bolder reform and investment.
The Lib Dems are pushing for that with their cancer pledges – support them here 👇
buff.ly/AhmMDl3
Great to join holiday park owners from across the constituency in London.
Dorset is a beautiful place, and that’s why people love to visit. It was really valuable to discuss the issues facing these businesses, which play such an important role in supporting local tourism and our rural economy.
Cycling to the station should be easy and safe, but fear of bike theft puts people off.
In 2024, 4,000+ bikes were stolen from UK stations, with just 22 charges.
I’ve launched a petition for secure bike lockers at stations.
Sign here
www.middorsetlibdems.org.uk/petitions/ke...
#bikesecurity
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey hits the nail on the head 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
An image of Steve Darling MP and his guide dog Jennie, holding up a banner which reads "ends experiments on animals"
I very much enjoyed attending Peta’s Research Modernisation Deal event in Westminster today and learning about their strategy for phasing out the use of animals and increasing the uptake of advanced technologies that perform better than animal-based methods.
@peta.org
#Animals #Animaltesting
Thankyou for all your work on this issue 🥰
04.02.2026 13:01 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Cancer Research UK
Owain’s Law
Radiotherapy UK
Wear it Pink
It’s World Cancer Day, a moment to reflect and renew our focus on tackling cancer. It affects every community and every family.
In MDNP, around 300 people lose their lives to cancer each year, with around 580 new diagnoses. This is a clear priority for me locally and nationally.
Spoke in the Police Reforms debate, highlighting Dorset as the second worst-funded force and pressing for a funding formula reflecting seasonal summer demand Visited Sandford GP Surgery on behalf of constituents concerned about GP provision Spoke in the Armed Forces Bill debate, standing up for service personnel and families amid ongoing failures in housing, education and healthcare support Held my regular advice surgery in Corfe Mullen, supporting local residents concerns Attended a National Trust breakfast roundtable, raising the concerns of Shapwick residents directly with the National Trust CEO Raised concerns about excessive use of remand, highlighting thousands of prisoners are held longer than sentences, and asked if technology could reduce the backlog Pressed Ministers on Access to Work delays on behalf of my constituents Signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Holocaust Memorial Book in Parliament Called for a debate following Storm Chandra’s devastation in Dorset, pressing for resilience funding to prevent flooding and extreme weather damage Visited the Supreme Court with fellow MPs as part of Justice Committee work, to learn more about the relationship between Parliament and the Judiciary Appeared on Sunday Politics to discuss issues including defections between political parties, asylum housing, police reform and rubbish Attended a Drop in with representatives of community pharmacy, optometry, dentistry and GPs to hear their concerns Raised the work of SAMEE, a Dorset charity supporting disabled young adults into self-employment, and secured a Ministerial meeting to discuss barriers to work
Some of what I’ve been up to last week.
If there’s anything I can help with, email me at - vikki.slade.mp@parliament.uk
Following the latest release of the shocking Epstein files, I called on the Government to ensure any individuals named, including Lord Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are fully investigated.
The UK should act and not simply co-operate with the US.
Deer grazing by the Bird hide
Sculpture in the secret walled garden
Part of the Berlin Wall in the woods helping to provoke N understanding of conflict and division
It was great to revisit Carey’s Secret Garden this weekend to catch up with their work with refugees & mark 2yrs since Bibby Stockholm left Dorset
This peaceful place of horticulture, sculpture, nature & ethical commerce needs celebrating & I hope to return soon
Great to meet with NFU Dorset at my Wimborne office to discuss food security, the future of Dorset farming, inheritance tax concerns and farming in the school curriculum.
The Lib Dems and I stand firmly with our farmers. I’ll always support their vital role in food security and the environment.
I hosted a public meeting in Shapwick to bring together residents, the National Trust and Wessex Water to discuss flooding, sewage, housing and future investment.
After the meeting, I raised these issues directly with the CEO of the National Trust and will keep pushing to protect Shapwick’s future.
"We honour the trailblazers who came before and stand with the next generation as they push for a fairer future.
Our message is unwavering: you belong, your history matters, and we will continue fighting until everyone is truly free to be who they are."
-Ed Davey
www.libdems.org.uk/news/article...
Great to be on BBC Politics South this morning talking about the impact to residents that changes to the police would have, recent Conservative defections to Reform and littering.
If you missed it you can catch it on BBC iPlayer 👉️ www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Young liberals with cllrs and members from Dorset including Vikki Slade MP & Millie Earl leader of BCP council in the liberal hall holding Lib Dem orange diamonds
A view in the hall of Maisie speaking to local members with international flag bunting
great to speak at Western Counties @youngliberalsuk.bsky.social event in Broadstone led by fantastic Maisie
Welcomed candidates for May, elections, campaigners, cllrs & trusty deliverers. Help us -Join below & if under 30 you can sign up to YL as well
www.middorsetlibdems.org.uk
