Been attending Bristol’s International Women’s Day. Met lots of groups doing important work in the city. On a panel incl Police Commissioner Clare Moody on “smashing the patriarchy” My answer was to dismantle and disempower it and to replace with much more diverse leadership in politics and society
The T20 Women’s World Cup comes to Bristol in 100 days. It felt like summer already at Gloucestershire county ground at the launch event. Bristol will host West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand, among others, bringing thousands of visitors to the city and encouraging more women and girls into sport.
Purim Sameach! Happy Purim to all my Jewish friends in Bristol and across the country.
Happy St David's Day to all my fellow Welsh people in Bristol and around the world.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus, pawb! 🏴🏵
Graphic saying 'Protect SEND kids from private profiteering'
It is time that SEND services are designated as critical infrastructure to put our kids first and stop offshore companies raking in millions in profit.
Read about our calls to protect SEND kids and prevent our services being used as a cash cow by investment firms 👇
Well done Team GB on the silver medal in curling. Interesting to see that the IOC member presenting the medals was Hugh Robertson, who when he was a DCMS minister I worked with closely for the Liberal Democrat side of the Coalition on the Same Sex Marriage legislation.
Spending time with Bristol’s Ukrainian refugee community, at an event marking the 4th anniversary of the Russian invasion. Over a thousand refugees have been housed by Bristolians. Many Ukrainian children have now been born here. Slava Ukraini!
Lent and Ramadan coincide this year, for the first time in three decades. Best wishes to everyone in Bristol and beyond marking the next few weeks. There is much that unites us, let’s put out of our minds those that want to divide us.
79.4% of Bristolians think the conditions of the roads are a problem.
That's why the Liberal Democrats have secured an additional £1m for potholes and road repairs over the forthcoming year - giving our roads the boost they need.
www.bristollibdems.org/news/article...
Twenty years ago today MPs voted for a comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces. Controversial at the time but quickly seen as a major public health advance. Proud to have played a key part, as remembered here with other MPs of the time ash.org.uk/media-centre...
Ahead of next week’s HIV testing campaign, as Bristol’s Public Health lead, I took a test with our sexual health service, Yuno. It was quick and easy, with my result being negative. Full details attached about how to access free testing and advice. news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releases…
Our input to Bristol City's Council annual budget has secured additional money for cleaner streets, local community groups, better planning enforcement, and more.
Read about the other areas we have secured money for below ⬇️
www.bristollibdems.org/news/article...
With rumours of a Government u-turn on planned business rates rises, it is “absolutely urgent” for Ministers to provide clarity to pubs, hospitality, and high street businesses.
www.bristollibdems.org/news/article...
Best wishes for Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends in Bristol and beyond.
Chanukah Sameach!
Community groups are facing astronomical increases in fees to hire council venues.
Liberal Democrat Councillor @cllr-andrew-varney.bsky.social has been campaigning to restore fair fees for our vital local community groups ⬇️
Graphic saying: Motion Passed, Fairer Funding for Council Tax Exemptions
We have sent the Government a clear message:
It's time to step up and fairly fund councils for providing Council Tax exemptions.
This week, Bristol City Council backed our calls for the Government to fund the value of student council tax exemptions - totalling £25m this year.
Flu spreads more easily in autumn when we spend time together indoors. If you are eligible the flu vaccine can help protect you from getting seriously ill. Find out more about the free NHS flu vaccine at grabajab.net or watch this film www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8tz... #winterstrong
On Politics West this morning, discussing the political scene, the continued sinking of both Tories and Labour, with me promoting the rising orange Liberal tide and Carla Denyer a Green surge. We agreed that local government is underfunded. Nice to meet Simon Opher MP for Stroud.
Our hospices have been pushed to the brink.
Hundreds of beds lie empty because there is not enough funding or staff. Services across the country have been pared back and 4 in 10 of hospices say they will have to make cuts this year.
Protect our hospices: sign our petition ⬇️
Joined council and community colleagues for the raising of the flag on College Green to mark Hate Crime Awareness Week. Bristol is a city that values and cherishes everyone, where racism, homophobia and hateful comments or actions to anyone are unacceptable.
Saddened by the death of former Liberal Democrat leader Ming Campbell. He was an outstanding parliamentarian with a great personal back story in the law and athletics. To me he was a much cherished avuncular mentor and friend. RIP 😢
Great turnout of donors at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery to see the new exhibition of rarely seen Turner water colours and other pictures and objects associated with Hotwells and the Avon Gorge. Pleased to thank donors and friends on behalf of the council.
Britain’s recognition of a sovereign state of Palestine 🇵🇸 is the right thing to do, at a critical time. The symbolism matters but the act must be more than symbolic. Britain and our European neighbours must use all our diplomatic and economic leverage to make Israel negotiate with Palestine.
Special evensong at Bristol Cathedral to rededicate the organ after a two year restoration. Parts of it date back to 1685, the current instrument has 3,800 pipes that fill the cathedral with sound. Look forward to hearing it on many future occasions.
Everyone interested in political history and psephology should buy this book. I’ve written the chapter on Newport 1922 and there’s 87 other political snapshots to savour too.
After this weekend’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter finals in Bristol, looking forward to seeing Canada v New Zealand in Friday’s semi-final, also in Bristol. Hope it’s not so wet!
Bristol's Library Funding Protected
We know that libraries are a vital community resource. That's why we've protected Bristol's library funding in full.
Read the joint statement between Cllr @stephenwi11iams.bsky.social and Council Leader Cllr Tony Dyer below
Delighted to be able to confirm to full council that Bristol’s libraries 📚budget will be fully protected in 2026/27. This is the second year that Liberal Democrats and our Green colleagues have protected libraries, a stark contrast to Labour’s hatchet job in previous years.
New NHS figures reveal that Bristol and surrounding areas saw 50,103 A&E attendances during June and July, up from 31,247 a decade ago.
Bristol's health services have faced a summer crisis, and urgent action is needed to stop the annual winter crisis turning into a permacrisis
Graphic saying 'investigate the SEND spying scandal once and for all, Bristol Liberal Democrats'.
Today, an investigation into the SEND spying scandal could finally be launched.
Under Labour's watch, they completely lost the trust of parents of SEND students and failed to listen to councillors' calls for an independent investigation.
