Speaking at the Dorchester Liberal Democrats’ Annual General Meeting last night, Justine McGuinness told members and supporters that the time had come for a fair deal for people living in and near Dorchester. Ms McGuinness said:

“It is time someone stood up for people of Dorchester and the surrounding countryside. This is my home and I know for too long rural West Dorset has been forgotten about by government. Some things just are not right and have not been for some time. They were not right under the Tories. And they have not got much better under Labour. We, Liberal Democrats, want to put things right. We want a fair deal for West Dorset.

“We offer people a real choice. It is a choice about values. It is a chance for a fair deal. Over the coming months we will focus on our values - focuses on freedom, fairness, trust.”

During the Dorchester Liberal Democrats’ Annual General Meeting, Harry Dowell stood down as Chairman of Dorchester Liberal Democrats and Cllr Susie Hosford was elected to Chair the branch from 1 January 2005.

After being elected, Cllr Hosford said: “I am delighted to have been elected to Chair Dorchester Liberal Democrats. It is an honour to take over from Harry. He has set high standards in his term of office, which I hope to build on. It is likely to be a busy year for Dorchester Liberal Democrats with the County Council elections coming up in May and the possibility of a General Election in 2005. I am looking forward to it!”

Justine McGuinness commented: “Harry has been a wonderful Chairman for Dorchester and a pleasure to work with. He always warmly welcomes people to our events and meetings. Under his term of office the branch has grown. I am sure that Sussie will follow in his footsteps and be an excellent Chair for Dorchester Liberal Democrats.”

Speaking at the Sherborne Liberal Democrats’ Annual General Meeting on Saturday 6 October, held in Thornford near Sherborne, Parliamentary Spokesperson Justine McGuinness told members and supporters that they had had a successful year but there is much Ms McGuinness said:

“It is time someone stood up for people living in the Sherborne area. West Dorset is my home and I have always had a high regard for Sherborne since my schooldays here. But I know some things just are not right and have not been for some time. We, Liberal Democrats, want to put things right. We want a fair deal for West Dorset.

“We offer people a real choice. It is a choice about values. It is a chance for a fair deal for Sherborne. Over the coming months we will focus on our values - focuses on freedom, fairness, trust - and give people positive reasons to vote for a local Lib Dem at the elections in May 2005.”

At the meeting Cllr Shirley Hewson was re-elected Chair of Sherborne Liberal Democrats for a further year.