Vincent Cable MP, Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor, on a fact-finding tour of the county, joined Justine McGuinness in West Dorset yesterday (Tuesday 15 February) and heard that some local business people even have to take second full-time jobs to keep their hig Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vincent Cable, promised swift action if his party takes power in the next few months.

He announced that the Liberal Democrats would restructure Business Rates.

Justine McGuinness explained why Mr Cable had visited: “The Liberal Democrats are the party of small businesses. I asked Vincent Cable to come to West Dorset today to meet local business people and hear first hand the issues that impact on their businesses. Certainly talking to people today I know our proposals to restructure Business Rates are welcomed.”

Henry Stark, owner of Dorchester’s Get On Board surfing and lifestyle clothing store, told them that while he made a small profit, there was no way the shop could foot its wages bill without the full-time job he had to take to make ends meet: “My profit goes back into buying more stock,” he told the politicians. “Yet I still have to pay tax on it before I can do that.”

At nearby Potter’s Cafe, Lynne Trulocke told Cable and McGuinness that while there was no VAT on food, she had to pay the tax on her sales and had no way of claiming it back: “It just seems completely unfair to me,” she commented.

Mr Cable told her that Liberal Democrats were urgently examining ways of easing the tax burden on small businesses:

“Business rates should be restructured so that they relate to the ability to pay,” he said. “Big stores would pay more and smaller shops less. It’s not anti big business because we need big business, but the playing field should be levelled out.

“We’re also looking at a scheme to give small companies a tax credit to enable them to cover the costs of complying with government regulations. In a small business with ten employees or fewer - and there are a lot of those in West Dorset - that could make a big difference.”

On their whistle-stop tour Ms McGuinness and Mr Cable also visited the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park at Burton Bradstock where they met Scott Condliffe who runs the park, which is a family business. Here they heard a familiar West Dorset story of an employer keen to take on local people but frustrated by the huge cost of housing on the Jurassic Coast. The people he needs, particularly younger staff, cannot afford to live in the area: “You’d think it would be quite easy to get a cook,” he said. “But without offering accommodation, we are really struggling to find one.”

The Scouts will be delivering hundreds of Christmas cards from Justine McGuinness around the Dorchester and neighbouring villages. Christmas cards from Justine going to people in the Dorchester area will be delivered using ‘Scout Post’. The proceeds of Scout Post will go to the Scouts and to other local charities.

Justine McGuinness, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for West Dorset said:

“The Scout Post does a wonderful job in the Dorchester area helping to deliver a Christmas cards. Like many local people, I am happy to be able to support the scouts raise funds for charity.

“Anyone who has cards left to post in the Dorchester area has until Sunday lunchtime to get Christmas cards into the Scout Post.”

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.”

Justine McGuinness, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, and Molly Rennie, former Dorchester Mayor, joined hundreds of Magpie supporters at Dorchester Town Football Club on Saturday. Justine was the guest of the club’s Vice President Gary Beresford and presented the Man of the Match award to recently-signed Gary Middleton. Middleton has never won the award before.

Justine commented: “I was delighted to be a guest on Saturday. Dorchester Town Football Club does so much for Dorchester, whether it is encouraging children to play football or the Avenue Forward Line, who raise thousands of pounds for local charities.

“It was a shame the Magpies did not win and I wish them the best of luck for their next game. It was an honour to present Gary Middleton the Man of the Match award.”

For the first time West Dorset Liberal Democrats will have a stand at the Dorchester Show this weekend. Parliamentary spokesperson Justine McGuinness explained why: “Dorchester Town Council is run by the Liberal Democrats. I felt that it was important that we had a presence at the Dorchester Show. So for the first time we have taken a show stand. It is a chance for people to come along and have a chat with their Councillors.”Throughout both Saturday and Sunday I will be on the stand with our team of Liberal Democrat County, District and Town Councillors.”

Children are more than welcome on the Liberal Democrat stand which is D14.

Justine McGuinness continued: “We will be selling raffle tickets. The fabulous prizes include a week at a holiday cottage in France, a Dorset ‘home-grown’ lamb and organical-breed rare breed pork, plus a watercolour by Bridport artist Keith Cast and many other super prizes.”

Justine McGuinness added: “I am looking forward to meeting as many people as possible and hope everyone at the Dorchester Show enjoys it!”

Justine McGuinness, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for West Dorset today wrote to Prince Charles to ask for help sorting out the mess following the felling of trees on the Bridport Road, Poundbury where an avenue of trees has been ruined. Commenting on her letter to HRH Prince Charles, Justine McGuinness said:

“There are precious few trees in Poundbury, a development seen as HRH Prince Charles’ personal project, which is why I have asked for his help. This wilful destruction of our environment has not gone unnoticed by the local community. Many people are very upset about it. Ideally the trees ought to be replaced with mature trees. Failing that either Prince Charles, as a sign of good will to the people of Dorchester, or the contractors, ought to substantially compensate in some other way.”

Ms McGuinness continued:

“Like many local residents around the Bradford Peverell and Poundbury area I have great affection for the landscape, which once included the complete avenue of trees. So I am extremely distressed about this act of environmental violence.

“I have also written to the District Council to ensure that other trees are fully protected for future generations. Immediate action must be taken to make sure this never happens again and to protect any remaining trees in the avenue and on Poundbury.”