Category: My work

I have always been clear about both the threat of the climate emergency and the radical action required to tackle it.

We must work toward an economic model that prioritises green jobs and poverty elimination over the consumption of the super-rich and the profits of shareholders.

I think a levy on frequent flying is an excellent idea and would encourage people to think twice about flying and to avoid travelling by air where there is an alternative, or if the journey is not important.  I can see that it would help to keep emissions down whilst we move to green sources of energy.

I have signed the open letter calling on the Government to impose a levy.

I will also continue to advocate that the investments required should come from taxing wealth, so that those who are disproportionately responsible for causing the climate emergency, pay the greatest share to repair the damage.

I fully agree that polluters, the contributors to global warming, must be made to pay for the damage that they do to our precious environment. They make money, but we, and the environment, pay for it.

This is grossly unfair, so reparatory levies that are used to offset the damage that is being done to the environment and people’s lives, must be sought.

It’s not surprising that COP26, under UK leadership, did not seek to setup a Loss and Damage fund, because our government represents the interests of one group of its clients, the powerful and wealthy corporations who are responsible for profit-driven carbon pollution.#

These corporations can easily fund a Loss and Damage initiative, they just need to be forced to do it.

I have signed EDM 374 thanks, as have another 35 MPs.
Loss and Damage Action Day 2022

Wera Hobhouse (Bath)

That this House acknowledges Loss and Damage Action Day, which is taking place on 22 September 2022, to highlight the severe impacts of climate change already affecting communities around the world; notes that climate change induced loss and damage is projected to cost between $290bn and $580bn a year by 2030 in developing countries alone, and that at present this cost is set to fall on the communities affected, who have done little or nothing to cause the problem; further notes that communities in the UK are also increasingly affected by the escalating impacts of climate change, including this summer’s wildfires; believes that the UK and other developed countries have a responsibility to provide financial support to developing countries experiencing loss and damage; calls on the Government to pledge its support for a loss and damage finance facility ahead of COP27 in November; and further calls on the Government to prioritise this issue in its diplomatic efforts during the remainder of the UK’s COP26 Presidency.

UPDATE 20 November – Fortunately, COP27, hosted by Egypt, reached a “breakthrough Agreement on a new ‘Loss and Damage’ Fund for Vulnerable Countries” as announced by the United Nations.

I have very deep concerns about the Public Order Bill, and its purpose is plain for all to see.

The Public Order Bill will curtail so many of our freedoms that it’s hard to know where to start if one were to list them:  freedom of expression, freedom of action, freedom of movement and freedom of speech, especially when people want to protest the exploitative nature of our unfair economic and social structures and are suffering from it so badly.

The bill is an attack on our democratic rights and clearly a strategic move by the Government to protect itself and our exploitative economic system, as it continues to make more draconian laws while it still has the chance.

I’ll continue to make a stand against the bill. At every opportunity I’ve voted against this bill, and in support of any wise amendments to it, I will continue to do so.

Many of my constituents have emailed me about the Bill of Rights bill, misleadingly named as it is!

This bill is indeed a total mess and was rightfully previously shelved the first time around.

Its purpose seems to be to take away our rights, and give the Government more arbitrary power, and many people are clearly aware of this.

I will continue to vote against it, and any bill like it, as I have done for as long as I’ve been an MP.

I will continue speak out against such draconian measures, not just in Westminster, but beyond.

I completely agree that we must retain the right to boycott, and that institutions must retain the right to boycott if they so choose.

It’s clear that any planned anti-boycott’ bill is a piecemeal knee jerk reaction to the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions, boycott, (BDS) thus it is not a sincere piece of legislation by any stretch of the imagination.

At every opportunity I’ve voted against any bills which seek to prevent boycotts, and in support of any wise amendments to them. I have also spoken out against such moves, in public, inside and outside of Parliament.

I fully oppose the introduction of this awful bill. And I will continue to do so.

I have been asked on many occasions by a number of constituents about Diabetes UK’s drop in events. 

I fully support the work that Diabetes UK does and like so many of you, I want to see care for diabetes improved. 

For years I have supported more funding for the NHS and have opposed the privatisation of it, which takes money out of care and puts it straight into the pockets of private investors.

I am often not free to attend the Diabetes drop-in events, but this is not at all a reflection of my support.

I will continue to push for more funding for the NHS care that we all deserve, and to oppose privatisation of the NHS, and I’m very pleased to have so many constituents’ support in doing so.