WEYMOUTH teacher Matt Bell has launched his bid to become South Dorset’s next MP.

He says he is standing to give the area a voice and to campaign against the hardship in the constituency.

Mr Bell, who is a Weymouth Town Councillor, told Lib Dem supporters at a meeting on Friday evening that his “bold and exciting campaign” aimed to give South Dorset a fair deal.

“I grew up in South Dorset and I now live, work and raise my family here. Put simply, I want the best for South Dorset and I have become extremely frustrated by a lack of strong representation of the needs of South Dorset residents and businesses. I am appalled by the hardship I have witnessed within my own community and commit myself to improving the lives of people living in this beautiful part of the world.  All too often we are ignored, and I want to provide a listening ear and a strong voice for all residents in South Dorset,” he told the meeting, held at Weymouth Golf Club.

“These are tough times on a local, national and global scale. However, the people of Dorset continue to display remarkable strength, decency and resilience. When I visit the hamlets, villages and towns of South Dorset I hear people’s hopes for the future and their craving for decorum and understanding to be displayed by politicians in Westminster.

“People across Dorset, from all walks of life, continue to work hard to make ends meet and provide for their loved ones. This challenge seems to be getting harder and harder every day. Now, more than ever, people deserve a fair deal.

“Constituents I speak to regularly state they want to see an end to this appalling government.”

Mr Bell said the three key issues during the general election are likely to be the NHS, cost of living and the environment.

“Just this week there has been a sign of strain on local health services. There is now just one remaining pharmacy open on Portland. I am fully behind Stephen McGonigle who is applying to reopen a second pharmacy and help out thousands of people. We need more people like him in communities across South Dorset.”