New York Climate Week

I’ve been out in New York representing the UK at the UN General Assembly/ New York Climate Week. I was delighted to announce that the UK will sign up to CHAMP (Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships), a global agreement on working with sub-national and local government on climate action. 72 countries signed up to this at COP28 in Dubai last year, but the then UK Government refused to do so. Joining now sends a strong signal that we want to work with city leaders on delivering net zero.

As well as confirming that the UK will start consulting on voluntary high integrity carbon markets, I also announced new funding for forests and a groundbreaking deal with the state of Para, in the Amazon, which will preserve the rainforest and support indigenous communities. I’m looking forward to hearing about the progress made when Brazil hosts COP30 next year.

This is the difference that a Labour Government can make; an outward looking Britain showing true climate leadership. You can see a summary of the outcomes of my trip here.

Labour Conference

While I was away at NY Climate Week, Labour held its best-attended Conference ever in Liverpool – our first in Government for 15 years. The slogan for this year’s Conference was ‘Change Begins Now’; this was clear as the Prime Minister listed our achievements so far – getting far more done than the Tories ever did in their 14 years in office. In just three months we have passed planning reforms, ended public sector strikes, launched new solar and offshore wind projects, shaken up school inspections, and created both a new Border Security Command and a National Wealth Fund. Although, with a decade of national renewal ahead, the work has just begun.

Although I could not be there, several of my staff from both my Westminster and Bristol East offices were able to attend, and attended events and stalls on my behalf. Between them they visited Sense, Guide Dogs, British Heart Foundation, Animal Free Research UK, Dementia UK, Pathway, Cancer Research UK, RE Policy Unit and many others.

The escalation of violence in the Middle East

The suffering and bloodshed continues unabated in the Middle East, and with the conflict escalating following attacks in Lebanon, the situation has reached a critical point. The Foreign Secretary has been speaking with the Lebanese PM Najib Mikati about restoring stability and security across the Blue Line, whilst the Prime Minister used his speech at the UN General Assembly  to outline how the UK was returning to a position of international leadership – calling on each nation in the region to “Stop the violence. Step back from the brink.”

This is of course intrinsically linked to the horrors that are still unfolding in Gaza. As ever, the only way to stop the killing, to start repairing Gaza and the West Bank and to rescue the hostages is an immediate ceasefire. This Government is working alongside our G7 partners to formalise a wider demand for the ceasefire and a political plan to implement it.

Crime and antisocial behaviour

At the start of the month, I was able to get out with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Clare Moody, and local police officers to speak with residents and business-owners in Old Market and Easton. It was a good opportunity for all of us to discuss the problems with crime and antisocial behaviour which are plaguing communities across Bristol East.

Several people I spoke to mentioned open substance misuse and drug-dealing, and the impact this has on local residents and families. Having seen the work and community engagement of our local police officers, I am keen to see the introduction of the Government’s measures to support community policing through an extra 13,000 neighbourhood police officers on our streets. However, we must also break the cycle of reoffending; I will soon be seeing the Intensive Supervision Court pilot in action, which involves offenders accessing specialist support services to address the underlying issues behind their offending behaviour.

I was also concerned to read multiple reports of harassment and violence on parts of the Bristol-Bath Railway Path. Everyone should be able to use the cycle path without any fear or intimidation, so I have raised this with the Council and local police. I have been reassured by the police that they have increased the number of high-visibility patrols in the area, and I understand the Council is investigating how they can introduce additional security measures.

The Police and Crime Commissioner is developing a Police and Crime Plan which will shape her priorities for policing in Bristol over the next five years. The draft plan has now been finalised, and you can read it here, where you can also fill out her survey. If you’d like to have your say and influence our local policing strategy, I’d encourage you to share your views before it closes on 21st October.

Especially after the tragic stabbing on Stapleton Road last week, I am in regular contact with our local police officers about their work to keep us safe. If you are ever concerned – or wish to raise a particular issue affecting your neighbourhood – please do get in touch.

University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus at Temple Quarter

I was glad to speak at the ‘topping out’ ceremony for University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus being built as part of the Temple Quarter scheme, one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe.

‘Topping out’ marks the completion of the building’s main structure and as part of the ceremony I took part in some rather interesting rituals. One involved Evelyn Welch, the University’s Vice-Chancellor (pictured below) filling a column with cement, which I then had to smooth over with a ceremonial trowel. A representative from the University nailed an evergreen tree branch from another Bristol University Campus to one of the building’s walls, and we raised a toast with a flagon of ale, before taking part in a bagpipe parade.

Ceremony and ritual aside, I am really hopeful for what Temple Quarter could mean for East Bristol and its local residents, who are very much a part of its upcoming plans. By creating a pipeline of engineers, innovators, technicians and entrepreneurs, and reaching out to local communities to find new homegrown talent, the University will play a vital role in Labour’s missions for economic growth, accelerating to net zero and breaking down barriers to opportunity. As part of the regeneration we will also see the opening of the eastern entrance to Temple Meads Station, which I’m sure many constituents will welcome too!

St George Park Survey

I’m pleased Bristol City Council has now recategorised the vehicles parked around St George Park as high-impact, due to the number of reports of antisocial behaviour received by Avon and Somerset police. As the Council begins serving notices to ask the vehicles to move on from the area, this will importantly include outreach alongside St Mungo’s specialist staff to assess the welfare and support needs of those living in the vehicles.

I was recently able to meet with some of those who completed my survey and with the local councillor at the Beehive Centre. There is an ongoing conversation about next steps – some want to see traffic-calming measures introduced, whilst others are hopeful that the notices alone will improve the situation, as we’ve seen elsewhere in the city.

Importantly, I am keen to see the Council continue their work of engaging with those in the vehicles and the wider community to offer support and advice. Many have raised how this encampment is linked to the city’s housing crisis, reinforcing our need for high-quality and affordable housing throughout the city.

Dementia-Friendly Allotment in Brislington

In March this year Bristol welcomed its second dementia-friendly allotment at Talbot Road Allotments in Brislington. I visited the first site in Brentry a few years ago, so I was excited to hear this brilliant initiative was branching out to Bristol East. Run by older people’s wellbeing charity Alive Activities, the allotments offer therapeutic gardening sessions to people with dementia and their carers so that they have a space to relax, grow a support network and enjoy the many benefits of nature and gardening.

This has been a labour of love for the dedicated team of staff and volunteers from Alive, and it is also an example of great partnership working. From the allotment team at Bristol City Council, the support of the allotment site reps, to the contributions of labour and materials from local businesses and others, it took a lot of collective effort to bring the project to fruition. But perhaps most importantly is the partnership with the people who use the service themselves, who co-create the workshops to ensure the sessions meet their needs.

It was a joy to meet with the staff and people who make these sessions such a success and give people with dementia and their carers a peaceful outdoors environment in which to connect with the natural world and each other.

Citizens Advice Bristol

I recently visited the local Citizens Advice bureau to learn more about the great work their team does to support not just my constituents, but the whole of the city. This year their staff and volunteers have helped nearly 1,400 Bristol East constituents with issues ranging from housing and homelessness, to debt management and benefits applications. I also spoke to the CEO, Jon Shoesmith, about the continuing effects of the cost-of-living crisis.

It’s vital that everyone gets the support they need, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re struggling. You can contact Citizens Advice Bristol by phone on 0808 278 7959, Monday – Friday between 9am – 3pm, or visit their website anytime here. If you’d like to attend one of their advice drop-ins, you can find them at 48 Fairfax Street, Bristol, BS1 3BL. The sessions are held on Tuesdays between 9:30am – 11am, and Thursdays between 11am – 1pm.

Revisiting ASDAN

I met with Melissa Farnham, CEO of ASDAN, at their headquarters in a former workhouse next to St George’s Park. The building was opened back in 2001 by my predecessor Jean Corston, who was MP for Bristol East between 1992 and 2005, and having met with them several times before Covid, I was pleased to pay the ASDAN team another visit.

ASDAN is an educational charity and a provider of courses and qualifications. We spoke about their work to help people facing social disadvantage – particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), children growing up in poverty, care leavers and prisoners – to develop new skills, grow in confidence and gain qualifications. Many of their courses open doors by making sure these skills are recognised by employers, colleges and universities.

ASDAN’s work aligns closely with Labour’s mission to Break Down the Barriers to Opportunity, in ensuring all children can leave school ready for employment or further study, equipped with the tools to navigate adult life. They have plans to expand their work with prisoners and young offenders, and reach out to children affected by parental imprisonment. I’ve written to my colleagues in the Department of Education and the Ministry of Justice with a view to securing a meeting, and seeing this work replicated more widely.

COP 29 Westminster Hall Debate

It was great to be back speaking in Parliament after summer recess in a Westminster Hall debate brought forward by my colleague Deirdre Costigan ahead of COP29 in November. I will be heading out to Baku as Minister for Climate, with Ed Miliband and others, looking to build on the work we did in New York and continue to restore Britain’s standing as international climate leaders.

As I said in my speech “We are almost halfway through what is a decisive decade to halt climate change. As global surface temperatures continue to rise following 12 months of record-breaking warmth; as people around the world face the very real effects of this crisis with rising sea levels, nature loss and food insecurity; and as we see climate vulnerable countries devastated by extreme weather events, it is clear the decisions that we make now will define our planet’s tomorrow.” I outlined the pace at which this Government is already moving – lifting the onshore wind ban, rolling out solar energy, and setting up the publicly-owned GB Energy.

You can see a snippet of my speech below, and find the full version here.

A New Pay Deal for Junior Doctors

After 44 painstaking days of industrial action, in September the new Government agreed a deal with the British Medical Association (BMA) trade union, to increase junior doctors’ pay and improve their working conditions.

The BMA represents two-thirds of junior doctors, and its members have now accepted the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting’s offer of a 22% pay rise over 2 years. The junior doctors’ strike was the most prolonged dispute in NHS history, but the Conservatives failed to negotiate a suitable deal during the years they were in power, letting waiting lists and costs to the taxpayer spiral on their watch.

Industrial action in our NHS is not taken lightly, and is a sign of how undervalued so many junior doctors felt. Many went on strike as a last resort after years of overwork to the point of burnout during the pandemic. The new Labour Government has shown that a fair deal can be reached by getting around the table and negotiating, working closely with unions rather than against them. This is something to be celebrated and is one of our proudest achievements so far in Government.

New Homes Accelerator

I’ve been pleased that in the few months since the election, housing has been centre stage in the Government’s thinking. The latest announcement, the New Homes Accelerator, will cut red tape and planning delays across the country. The NHA will provide resources and expertise to local authorities, expanding planning capacity and getting hundreds of thousands of unbuilt or partially-built homes through the planning system.

The UK is suffering from chronic low growth and a severe housing crisis. Ending the housing logjam created by our planning system – and the underfunding of local authorities’ planning departments – is a crucial step forward. We’re committed to building 1.5m new homes over the course of this Parliament, and the New Homes Accelerator is an early sign that we’re delivering on that promise.

This comes ahead of the second reading of Labour’s Renters Rights Bill on 9^th October, as we look to finally ban no-fault evictions and strengthen tenants’ rights and protections. Renters have been waiting years for reform after the Tories broke promise after promise to appease the landlords within their ranks – change is long overdue.

Strategy to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls

For months we’ve seen headlines detailing horrific attacks on women and girls across the UK. The Government has launched a cross-Departmental strategy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, spearheaded by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. As part of these plans we are piloting Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, which mean domestic abusers will have to stay away from their victims for longer, or face 5 years in prison if they fail to do so. The new orders will make it a legal requirement for perpetrators to inform the police of any change in name or address, and can also impose electronic tagging, and order assessments for behaviour change programmes.

These orders will cover all forms of domestic abuse, stalking and coercive control, and can be requested by police, criminal/civil/family courts, social services and local authorities, and charities working with victims, and victims themselves. Current protection orders can only hold for a maximum of 28 days. The new orders have no maximum duration, ensuring victims’ protection first.

We will introduce Raneem’s Law to protect those under threat of domestic violence, ensuring that reports are responded to quickly, taken seriously, and support is available to victims. We are embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms, so victims who call emergency services are appropriately supported from the start. As part of our new strategy we will also support schools to teach children about healthy relationships, consent and mutual respect from an early age, and provide the resources to ensure this happens across the country.

Casework – September 2024

Since my last newsletter, my team and I have opened 75 new cases through September, alongside working hard on existing cases.

Housing continues to be a major source of casework, with 20% of this month’s cases relating to people facing housing-related issues. In particular, I have been contacted by many families facing challenges with their temporary accommodation. This month, my team were glad to help a constituent and her young son move into more suitable temporary accommodation. As Bristol City Council faces growing need to support households facing homelessness, their teams face an incredibly difficult task to source temporary accommodation. I am frequently contacted by families who have been placed into hotels in Weston-super-Mare or even Cardiff on an emergency basis; nobody thinks this is a desirable outcome, but it is sadly often the only choice available. Given Bristol’s housing crisis, I am especially glad to see the Deputy Prime Minister leading the cross-government taskforce to tackle homelessness alongside local councils and mayors, in addition to Labour’s plans for strengthening renters’ rights and building more affordable housing.

My team has also seen an increase in cases related to issues with waste and recycling. My constituents have contacted me to report that their bins and bulky waste collections have been missed, and I’ve seen widespread reports of fly-tipping on residential streets. This is an issue that I have repeatedly raised with Bristol Waste; they have recently presented an action plan to the council on improving their service.

If you’d like to attend a constituency surgery, you can request an appointment to discuss any casework issues affecting you.

Best wishes,

Kerry McCarthy

Bristol East MP

Minister for Climate