In 2024, nearly 30% of home sales in Bristol South were on leasehold properties For far too many leaseholders in Bristol South, the reality of home ownership falls woefully short of the ideal they were promised. Escalating service charges, opaque fees and poor management can be daily stresses with many leaseholders feeling disempowered and at the mercy of a system that feels like it is extracting value from them rather than allowing them to enjoy the home they have dreamed of

The tobacco industry was hugely significant in the industrial history of south Bristol, photo courtesy https://tobaccofactory.com/history/ The fourth largest tobacco company in the world is still based on Winterstoke Road, and thousands of local people used to work at the W.D. & H.O. Wills factories in Bedminster and Hartcliffe. The physical legacy is clear to see, including the Tobacco Factory venue, apartments at Lakeshore, and the, now closed, banks needed for the huge pay

Image courtesy Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government In just under a fortnight’s time, the biggest ever change in the private rented sector will take place, transforming the rights of thousands of private sector renters in Bristol South. A third of properties in Southville are privately rented, and more than a quarter of those in Bedminster and Windmill Hill are the same. From the 1 May there will be no more “no fault” evictions meaning landlords will no longe

Plug-in solar panels offer an opportunity for households to save on energy bills Recent conflict in the Middle East has brought home how dependence on volatile international fossil fuel markets has left this country vulnerable. We need to get to a place where events beyond our control do not lead to everyday essentials becoming unaffordable. The economic plan pursued by this Government since Labour was elected in July 2024 has been showing its benefits – going into this confl

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, speaks at a press conference about the situation in the Middle East The war which began between Iran and the US and Israel on 28 February is rightly a concern for people across Bristol South and our country. In this post, I will outline how the Government is responding. In a press conference on Monday 16 March, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out his three priorities for while this conflict persists. Firstly, he has rightly made protectin

Visit to St Peter's CofE Primary School in Bishopsworth, January 2026 Previously, I have written on this blog about important reforms that this Labour Government is undertaking to make sure every child, no matter their start in life, has the chance to thrive and go as far as their talents will take them. I have talked about our reforms to special educational needs provision , which will make schools more inclusive places where getting the right support is a matter of course r

The Education Secretary, Bridget Philipson, updates the MPs in the House on the Government's SEND reforms Far too often I am contacted by concerned parents whose children have been pushed aside, out of education for months, and whose needs are not being met. No one doubts the current system of Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) provision is failing young people, support is delayed by a complex bureaucracy, and children miss out on the early help they need.

I am proud to have voted for the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation Parliament has passed the landmark Employment Rights Act: the biggest uplift to workers’ rights for years. This is a major win for working people in Bristol South and in every part of the country. The Act will decisively tilt the balance of power towards workers allowing for pride, security and respect in work. For many people, the world of work in Tory Britain was far too often characteris

This week the Labour government announced a new Animal Welfare Strategy , which will deliver the most significant improvement for a generation in the welfare of pets, farmed and wild animals. Half of the adult population of the UK share their lives with a pet, a figure which is much higher in parts of Bristol South. They are loved companions, can help keep people active, lower stress levels and be good for children’s physical and mental health. We are already making it e

Minister Jess Phillips MP delivers the Government's Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the House on Thursday 18 December Launched this week, the strategy and action plan to combat violence against women and girls is a huge step forward in meeting our manifesto pledge to halve this abuse in a decade. The Prime Minister made this a priority when he led the Crown Prosecution Service in 2012 and has now followed through with that personal commitment. The scale of the

Photo credit: forestofavon.org Earlier this month, the revised national Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) was published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The EIP is our country’s long-term plan to improve the natural environment, clean up our air and waterways and protect environmental security. It also seeks to improve everyone’s access to nature. It can be sensibly considered as the companion to the Planning and Infrastructure Act. The E

Facilities like the South Bristol Community Hospital will be key to delivering our 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS After months of hard work, the 10-Year Health, Plan for England was published in July this year. This plan, informed by the views of thousands of staff and members of the public, will help deliver on our promises at last year’s General Election—a healthier, fairer, more prosperous country. There is a deliberate and specific focus on the impact of health inequal

Giving children the opportunity to thrive at every stage of their development is at the heart of what this Government is doing. From building on the legacy of Sure Start by bringing in Best Start Family Hubs for new parents, all the way to our post-16 skills White Paper which will give young people clear routes through learning and into the jobs that will help them get on in life. An important step was also taken last month with the publication of the Government’s response to

The Government's Renters' Rights Act will make a huge difference to people across Bristol South This landmark legislation addresses the historic unfairness and instability of the private rental market. From 1 May 2026, new laws will kick in that give 11 million renters stronger rights, including thousands in Bristol South. These including outlawing Section 21 “no-fault evictions”, banning bidding wars, restrictions on upfront rent and ending discrimination against those who r

Karin Smyth MP with Matt Justice, CEO of Youth Moves at the site of the new 224 Youth Zone on Hartcliffe Way Just over a year ago, the Robins Foundation at Bristol City shared with me a report produced by their Peer Action Collective (PAC) team. The PAC team, made up of young people from Bristol, had undertaken research into the challenges others have in finding a trusted adult outside of home or school, who they can turn to for guidance or support. I am very pleased to see t

Despite Bristol being a wealthy city, parts of my constituency count among the most deprived places in England, with over 50% of children in some parts of south Bristol living in poverty. Children in Bristol South are more than twice as likely to be on free school meals as in Bristol Central. Under the Tories, 900,000 children fell into poverty across our country, a record that should shame them. Addressing child poverty is a moral mission for this Government, but it is also

Rachel Reeves delivers her second budget. Credit: BBC News Today, Rachel Reeves delivered a budget that cuts the cost of living for ordinary families, continues to cut waiting lists in our NHS and gets our national debt under control. The average family will save £150 per year on their energy bills thanks to cutting failed Tory insulation schemes, £40 on fuel by forcing petrol forecourts to share real time prices and extending the 5p cut to fuel duty, as well as keeping presc

The M1 Metrobus, one of several routes that are being extended or added in Bristol South in 2025, photo credit: West of England Combined Authority Regular readers will know that my parents met working on the buses, and I am a huge supporter of bus travel. Even people who don’t regularly take the bus will have noticed the strain on our roads during the recent bus drivers’ strike in Bristol – buses matter for all of us. A reliable bus network can help to take more cars off the

2025 South Bristol Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair - photo credit City of Bristol College Regular readers will know that every year I host a Jobs and Apprenticeship Fair at the South Bristol Skills Academy in Hengrove. The event has grown from strength to strength since the inaugural Fair in 2016 providing thousands with the opportunity to get into work or a training placement. The next fair will be held on 12 February 2026. However, despite significant efforts by our school

Attending an SBLN consultation event at Ashton Vale Community Centre On 4 September, Bristol City Council launched a consultation regarding their proposals for a South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (SBLN). I have since been contacted by residents from across the SBLN area, which encompasses all of Bedminster, Southville and Windmill Hill wards. I have attended one of the engagement events and spoken directly to a number of residents on the doorsteps of Southville. To date, n