This has been a really worrying month for many people in Bristol and across the UK. We’ve seen President Trump’s actions on Ukraine and Gaza increase global instability. And here at home, rising energy bills and talk of cuts to welfare for disabled people will have many people feeling fearful about how to cope with rising costs and shrinking budgets.
In Parliament, I’ve been raising these issues and more with the government. With over 6000 homes in Bristol Central estimated to be living in fuel poverty, I urged the government to take action on energy bills.
Along with the other Green MPs, I wrote to the government to make it clear that international aid shouldn’t be cut to fund defence spending – not only because the decision will hit the world’s most vulnerable hardest, but because international aid makes the world more secure and keeps us safer.
Ahead of Keir Starmer’s visit to President Trump, I urged the PM to make clear that the President’s threat to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza will not be tolerated – and I will continue to fight for the rights of Palestinians.
I also challenged the government’s plans to cut welfare spending. This is a cruel and unnecessary policy that will make life harder for those who are already struggling the most. I proposed that the government look elsewhere to raise the funds, putting in place a wealth tax on multi-millionaires and billionaires to help fund public services.
But there has also been hopeful news. This month, the Committee on Climate Change published its findings on how we can reach our climate goals – which showed that getting there will be even cheaper than we previously thought and could save households £700 a year on bills. Here in Bristol, I was delighted to spend some time at the Castle Park Energy Centre, a huge water-source heat pump on the harbourside which will hopefully be one of many providing clean energy to Bristol.
Visiting some of the brilliant organisations here in Bristol working for a better future has also bolstered my hope. I had the privilege of dropping into Caring in Bristol to join their cooking group for young people, and was blown away by the dedication and compassion of their staff.
I also visited the Nelson Trust, who do inspiring work to help vulnerable women rebuild their lives, many of whom have experienced the criminal justice system, and took some time to visit a hotel in Bristol that houses asylum seekers. I will continue to push the Government to treat those seeking asylum fairly, humanely and without discrimination.
Finally, I would like to wish a Ramadan Mubarak to all those celebrating – I had a wonderful time sharing a meal with Bristolians from all walks of life at the Grand Iftar in Bristol Cathedral.
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 me using carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk