This month I was delighted to be appointed to the Renters Rights Bill Committee in Parliament. The cost of renting is a huge issue in Bristol Central, with the average rent hitting nearly £1,800 a month. I’m proud to be using my role on the committee to challenge the government to be bolder. Their draft bill would be a vast improvement to current laws on private renting, but it fails to tackle the affordability crisis. I’ve met with a lot of groups to hear about their experiences of private renting, including representatives from ACORN and from University of Bristol and the University of West of England’s Students’ Unions who shared with me the difficulties faced by students when renting in Bristol.
I was elected to be a strong, independent voice for Bristol Central, and in Parliament I’ve been speaking up for the issues that matter to our city. In October I co-sponsored the Climate & Nature Bill to make sure the UK does its bit to address the climate crisis. I also pressed the Prime Minister on when he will call out what is happening in Gaza as a genocide and urged him to take action alongside the international community to prevent it.
In October I was proud to present my Private Members Bill on State-related Deaths in response to the tragic death of a young woman in Bristol who died after public services repeatedly failed her. Public and private bodies have a duty to keep us safe from harm and protect our lives, but every year hundreds of people die preventable state related deaths. This Bill aims to fix a gaping and inexcusable hole in the government’s responsibility to keep its citizens safe.
This month I also responded to the Government’s Autumn Budget by calling out their decision to increase bus fares and keeping the two-child benefit cap. We need a budget that makes our country fairer and our economy greener, and sadly the Government failed to deliver on this. As your MP I will continue to speak out against unjust Government decisions like this.
Finally, I had a wonderful time celebrating at the Bristol Somali Festival 2024. The event showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Somali Community in Bristol through music, dance art and food. Bristol is an incredibly special place to live because of the rich tapestry of different voices, backgrounds and perspectives. This is one of the things I love most about living here and so it was an honour to be part of these celebrations.
If you live in Bristol Central and have a local issue you need support with, you can email me at bristolcentraloffice@parliament.uk or write to Carla Denyer MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
I hold regular constituency surgeries. To request an appointment, please contact me using any of the methods listed above.
For enquiries about Parliamentary matters, national issues, or policy, please email me using: carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk