Dear Elector,
During this local election, we have become aware that numerous Liberal Democrat election leaflets contain several serious untruths. We would like this opportunity to set the record straight, so that you have all the correct information to hand when you decide who to vote for to represent you on Dorset Council.
UNTRUE - Dorset Conservatives voted to slash £2.0million from Local Cost of Living Fund
REALITY - There has been no such vote. The LibDem leader has agreed to stop using this false statement although sadly it appears still to be in circulation. The cost of living support work continues, funded and working well. The LibDems appear to be referring to an initiative by the Conservative Group to provide a one-off £2million top up to this work made from reserves last year. Many LibDems supported the Conservative budget which includes the fully-funded cost of living support programme.
UNTRUE - That the Conservative group increased Council Tax by 26% since May 2019
REALITY - This is total fiction. The actual amount was 15% + the ring fenced Social Care Precept. The leaflet also stated that we ‘plan’ to increase council tax by 22%. This is complete news to us. We have no such plans in place.
UNTRUE - Liberal Democrat leaflets contain graphs showing the total number of councillors on Dorset Council as 77
REALITY - There are 82. We believe this is an attempt by this group to dismiss the smaller parties in Dorset to the advantage of the Liberal Democrats, stating that ‘Green and Labour can’t win here’. We believe in democracy and that smaller groups in Dorset can and do win and add to the diversity of a decent council.
The people of Dorset deserve to be shown respect during elections with honest campaigns based on fact not fiction. Much of the election material is based on half-truths and untruths. We are also aware that several of the LibDem candidates are uneasy about these untrue statements being included in election material, and we thank those few for their integrity.
We have kept our election campaign positive, based on achievements so far and ambitions for the next five years. An honest approach based on facts not fiction.
We hope our open letter has provided clarity over the fictional attempt to mislead the Dorset electors and that you will vote to support honesty and integrity on the 2 May.
The Conservative Candidates standing for the Dorset Council Elections 2 May 24
Promoted by L Beddow of South Dorset Conservatives, Chesil House, Dorset Innovation Park, Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset DT2 8ZB.
