Last month we finally saw a climbdown over the cruel and unnecessary cuts to welfare for disabled people, after I and other Green MPs fought the plans, tabling an amendment opposing the cuts. But Labour’s measly concessions don’t go far enough and will still remove vital support from people who need it.
I will keep fighting to stop the government from balancing the books on the backs of disabled people. Recently, I met with constituents calling for an increase in the basic rate of Universal Credit to make it cover the cost of essentials – something that should not be controversial. Cutting support from those who need it instead of making our tax system fairer is a political choice, and I will keep pushing the government to place a wealth tax on multi-millionaires and billionaires, raising £24bn a year.
Last month I continued to fight for greater action to protect nature and the climate. The health of our ocean has long been important to me, and I co-sponsored a Bill to ban bottom trawling – a horribly wasteful and destructive form of fishing. I’ve also written to the Energy Minister asking him to guarantee that, following the new ‘scope 3’ emissions guidance, the government will reject any application to drill Rosebank or Jackdaw – new oil fields that are incompatible with our climate commitments. I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate asking the government to put a ban on fossil fuel advertising, after 615 of my constituents signed a petition about this – and over 110,000 nationally. I feel very strongly about this and urged the government to take a stand against fossil fuel giants to protect our health and our environment.
Watching Louis Theroux’s documentary ‘The Settlers’ in Parliament was a reminder that we must keep speaking out against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and violence against Palestinians. I’ve called on the government to create a family reunification scheme for Palestinians in Gaza and to end arms sales to Israel. I asked the Secretary of State for Defence about our complicity in the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza and asked if he’ll put a stop to the UK training Israeli soldiers – I haven’t yet had a response.
The Home Office has torn lives, families and communities apart by treating migration as a crime. So I launched the ‘No Way Home?’ report making the case for the Home Office to be overhauled, and the Deputy Prime Minister has committed to reading my report. I also attended the Windrush Day Voices event at the Bristol Beacon, celebrating the legacy and impact of the Windrush generation. I will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of migrants in Bristol and across the UK.
Finally, it was wonderful to spend time with members of the Greek Cypriot community at the Annual Patronal Festival of the Greek Orthodox Community of Bristol – a lovely opportunity to spend time with members of the community.
• 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 email me using carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk