I hope you all found time over the festive period for rest and recuperation. I was able to take a short break to spend time with friends and family, but there’s also been lots happening over the last month to tell you about.
I was devastated to hear the news just before Christmas that Gaie Delap, a Bristol resident, was recalled to prison because the private company responsible for security monitoring couldn’t find a tag to fit her wrist. Gaie is 78, a peaceful climate protester and clearly no threat to the public. As Gaie’s MP I tried everything I could to challenge this decision – including writing to the prisons minister and the probation service. Recalling Gaie to prison is disproportionate, unjust and a waste of resources, and I will continue to do what I can to fight for justice for her.
In December I joined a cross-party group of MPs outside Parliament to call on the UK Government to stop arming Israel, took part in a Parliamentary debate on this issue, and met with Jewish and Muslim people working together for peace through the ‘Solutions Not Sides’ programme and the Arava Institute’s ‘Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza’ project.
I know that people in Bristol, including me, feel incredibly strongly about this. That’s why I will continue to push the UK Government to take action, as I did when I recently spoke with the Leader of the House of Commons about Amnesty International’s report which sets out that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza. I will not stop campaigning on this until we see an end to suffering in Palestine and Israel.
I’ve heard from several constituents in recent months who have concerns about the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions and the impact this could have on GP surgeries in particular. These changes would be hugely detrimental for patient care and could lead to the cutting of vital services like social care. I, along with the other Green MPs, have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to urge her to rethink this rise. Thank you to those of you who raised this issue with me; I always appreciate hearing from you about the things that matter to you.
Finally as last year came to a close, it was an honour to be named Bristol24/7’s person of the year. 2024 was the best year of my life (so far!); a huge reason for this has been because of the wonderful people in the city that I have worked alongside, and because I’ve been able to represent the issues that truly matter to Bristol in Parliament.
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
For enquiries about national issues please email carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk