Campaigns

• More on Emily's Campaigns on Crime and Policing.

• More on Emily's Campaigns on Health.

• More on Emily's Campaigns on Caring for Older People.

• More on Emily's Campaigns on Pensions.

• More on Emily's Campaigns on Council Tax.

• More on Emily's Campaigns on Education.

Crime and Policing

As an expert in tackling Anti Social Behaviour Emily knows the critical role the police play in tackling Anti Social Behaviour.

Emily went out on patrol to discover first hand the amount of paper work that is stopping our police officers getting out on the beat and fighting crime.

Emily's latest campaign was in October last year when she launched a petition to save Dorset's police from merger. The Campaign was successful, the Government did a U-turn and Dorset's police force was saved.

Health

Emily is a veteran health campaigner.

Victory! Emily spearheaded the campaign to save Wimborne?s Minor Injuries Unit. The campaigned stretched across all levels of government. The petition had over 4,000 signatures. It all paid off when the Minor Injuries Unit was not only saved but extended.

Dorset Air Ambulance plays a vital part in our emergency services in North Dorset and the surrounding area. It relies on public donations but cannot apply for lottery funding. Emily is pushing for a change in lottery funding to enable Dorset Air Ambulance to apply for the grants.

Numbers of people registered with an NHS dentist in North Dorset has fallen. Emily visited the Primary Care Trust to discuss how NHS dentistry provision could be improved despite the Government?s contracts.

Caring for older people

Emily with the nurses at the Cedars in Shaftesbury

It was an older person that got Emily into politics in the first place and her commitment to their care has not ceased.

Emily has campaigned across North Dorset for free personal care for the elderly.

Locally there is a shortage of affordable care and in particular care for those with Alzheimer's. While visiting the Cedars nursing home in Shaftesbury Emily called for more provision for those with Alzheimer's.

Pensions

Emily campaigning for a decent state pension

Emily has led campaigns and petitions for a fair deal for North Dorset's pensioners.

Emily has run specific campaigns for older women to have a decent state pension. Many women through looking after elderly parents and children have been cheated out of a decent state pension.

Emily said "Women should not be penalised for staying at home to care for elderly parents and children."

Council Tax

Emily campaigning with her husband Edward Davey MP to scrap Council Tax

Council Tax is unfair and should be scrapped. Emily and the Lib Dem team have run a cross North Dorset campaign to scrap council tax.

The Lib Dems want to see Council tax replaced with local income tax based on ability to pay.

Education

Emily visiting Pimperne Pre-school

North Dorset is very short of nursery school places. Frequently they are reliant on volunteers, but they are subject to Ofsted inspections.

Emily has been campaigning to give those managing nurseries and pre-schools the back-up and training they need.

As a local school governor Emily knows how important it is for schools to get the funding they need.

Emily regularly visits North Dorset's schools not only discuss with the heads funding issues but also to talk to pupils and answere their questions on the key political issues of the day.

Emily has actively campaigned against Tuition fees. "I fear that tuition fees put off some the less well off students. Access to university education should be based on ability not ability to pay."

Emily has working in housing law for over ten years. Through her work both as a local solicitor and working for a Registered Social Landlord the challenge many people face in finding affordable housing. Emily played a strong role in shaping the Liberal Democrats housing policy. In particular she was concerned that ways could be developed for affordable housing to stay affordable. Emily said "All too often housing is affordable for the first purchaser the challenge is to make it affordable for subsequent purchasers."