Matt ‘hopeless’ Hancock may be gone – but this still matters

09 Jul 2021

We all know that Matt Hancock was a useless Health Secretary – even the Prime Minister admitted it. Yet he was unable to sack him. Over the last few weeks I have been prodding Jacob Rees-Mogg on why he kept his job so long. Even by the standards of this…

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What the PM and ministers could learn from England’s football team

08 Jul 2021

The Prime Minister and the government could learn a lot from the Gareth Southgate School of Leadership. The England players and manager exemplify the best of British values. They stand up to racism and inequality. They succeed through hard work and discipline. And they are able to learn from their…

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Why did the PM keep a “hopeless” Health Secretary?

18 Jun 2021

We’ve now seen text messages proving that the Prime Minister knew “hopeless” Hancock was failing to protect care homes – so why did he keep him in the most important job through a global health crisis? I asked Jacob Rees-Mogg whether this was why the government had failed so badly.…

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“Predictable, predicted and avoidable, if government had heeded the warnings in April.” Reaction to Coronavirus restrictions extending beyond 21 June

15 Jun 2021

The Prime Minister announced to the Press yesterday that the current level of coronavirus restrictions will remain in place  for four more weeks, until 19th July. Unfortunately, in contravention of the Ministerial Code and to the frustration of the Speaker and many MPs trying to represent their constituents, he failed…

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As Covid cases rise again, why won’t the government learn from mistakes?

27 May 2021

We cannot go through the experience of the last 14 months again. Yet this government seems uninterested in learning from the mistakes it made during the Covid crisis. At Business Questions today (watch here), I asked the Leader of the House to urgently set out details of the Covid inquiry.…

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Bristol: Please get tested, and help control the new Covid variant

11 Feb 2021

A new variant of COVID-19 was found in Bristol recently, making it even more important that we do all we can to control the virus. The ‘Bristol variant’ is a mutation of the more infectious version of the disease first identified in Kent. As a ‘variant of concern’, the mutation…

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My event for taxi drivers in Bristol West

04 Feb 2021

On Friday 22 January, I held an online meeting for taxi drivers. Taxi drivers in Bristol have been hard hit by the pandemic. While drivers have been offering an essential service during this time, they have had little financial support or government guidance – and continue to have one of…

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Coronavirus transmission in schools – my views

13 Jan 2021

Many constituents have written to me about Covid transmission in schools. I have been contacted by many teachers, parents, pupils and school staff who have told me of their concerns about returning to school, particularly when the national Covid rate and hospital admission number remain so high and so worrying.…

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Support for the hospitality and nightlife sector

12 Jan 2021

Over the past few weeks I’ve been speaking to BARBIE, Business West, Bristol City Council and my colleagues in the Labour Party to try and ensure that I am doing everything I can to support businesses in the hospitality and nightlife sector. The hospitality industry is the third largest UK…

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Housing, homelessness and the new variant of COVID-19

04 Jan 2021

I sent this letter to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick before Christmas. I am yet to receive a response – to this or my previous letters. With evictions restarting next week and many homeless hostels unable to open fully, we urgently need answers to these questions.

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Why the vaccine makes me hopeful

22 Dec 2020

While things may seem gloomy, the COVID-19 vaccine is the light at the end of a very long tunnel. In these dark days it shows us the route back to some kind of normality. Several people have written to me with questions about the various Covid vaccines. As many of…

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Last-minute shoppers: Your chance to support independent Bristol businesses this Christmas!

21 Dec 2020

Over the last few weeks I have been promoting some of the excellent small businesses in my constituency, via social media. Bristolians have sent some great options, many of them new to me. You can find lots of ideas in my tweets here, or on my Instagram. Bristol has some…

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Nominate your favourite independent businesses this Christmas

05 Dec 2020

Bristol has some fantastic independent businesses. On Small Business Saturday (5 December), I’m launching a campaign to support Bristol’s independent shops, restaurants and other small businesses this Christmas. This year Bristol’s independent businesses have been hard hit by the COVID crisis. Those that have managed to keep trading have been…

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Bristol goes into Tier 3 restrictions

26 Nov 2020

When the national lockdown comes to an end next week, Bristol will be in Tier 3, the highest level of restrictions. A summary of what this means is below.

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Are vaccines safe? Do lockdowns work? And what about Sweden?

16 Nov 2020

Many of you have written to me with complex questions about the COVID-19 pandemic, including detailed enquiries on transmission, vaccines, possible treatment, lockdowns and other restrictions. I am not qualified to answer many of these questions, but I am lucky to represent a constituency which is home to many internationally…

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This winter, rough sleepers need more help

16 Nov 2020

For many rough sleepers this winter could be a struggle for survival. With homeless shelters closed because of the pandemic, colder weather and a deadly virus circulating, this winter looks like it will be particularly dangerous for people living on the streets. Sadly, the government help for rough sleepers is…

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Why has the government turned its back on rough sleepers?

12 Nov 2020

In the first lockdown, rough sleepers were helped off the streets into emergency accommodation. There is no doubt that this decisive move saved lives. At the time, ministers made impressive announcements that the government would “end rough sleeping for good”. Sadly, the gains from the spring seem to have been…

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In a difficult year, starting to feel hopeful once more

10 Nov 2020

I’m trying to get out and into the fresh air during the day every day – like so many people, this year has been a complex mixture. For far too many days I never left the house and rarely left my laptop. Almost all of us must have had our…

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COVID-19: Put your questions to leading scientists

05 Nov 2020

As the number of COVID-19 cases has risen sharply, it is clear that we need to try harder to stop the spread of infection. This new situation of course brings up really difficult and often upsetting questions about the way we work, socialise and interact. People want to understand the…

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Another lockdown: My reaction

03 Nov 2020

The Prime Minister announced new restrictions to take effect in England, subject to a vote in Parliament, on Thursday 5 November. The new restrictions will be intended to end on Thursday 2 December, with England then returning to a tiered system of local restrictions driven by latest data at the…

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Please follow the guidance and keep each other safe

02 Nov 2020

As we move into full national lockdown with stronger restrictions, I want to urge everyone to follow health guidance at all times. I know that this is a difficult time for everyone and I will soon write another blog about my views on the government’s decision making and the consequences.…

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