Today marks the start of Pride Month.🏳️‍🌈 This month, while we celebrate the hard-won progress made towards LGBTQ+ equality, we must also recommit to tackling discrimination - including finally introducing a trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban to put an end to this abhorrent practice.

Labour promised to ban trophy hunting imports - yet since 2024, they've issued 28 permits to allow the bodies of hunted endangered animals to be brought back to the UK as souvenirs. This is a shameful betrayal. Enough empty promises; the Government must take action to end this cruel practice.

The Government’s Defence Investment Plan is still missing, months after it was promised. With Kremlin aggression growing & an increasingly unreliable ally in the White House, this delay isn’t just indefensible - it’s dangerous. Ministers must stop hiding & publish the plan now.

Green infrastructure - from gardens and parks to green corridors - must be included in planning from the very start, not treated as an afterthought. I chaired a discussion with MPs, industry leaders & HTA representatives on the barriers preventing green development & how we can overcome them.

From visiting St Michael’s Junior School to see how the Orchestra of Everything Foundation are making music accessible, to urging the Government to protect flexible work – this past week I've been standing up for the issues that matter to you. Here's a snapshot of what else I've been up to.👇📸

We @libdems.org.uk warned that Labour’s National Insurance Hike would kill off the jobs that give young people their first shot at work. Now we’re seeing it happen. They must scrap their unfair jobs tax & boost skills training & apprenticeships to give young people the opportunities they deserve.

Using hydrogen to power our planes is a huge opportunity to decarbonise a polluting industry.✈️ The UK is home to some of the most innovative companies, like ZeroAvia, who are working to make this possible. The Government must back this ambition & help make the UK a global leader in clean hydrogen.

Animals killed for their fur endure needless suffering. Although the UK banned fur farming 20+ years ago, it still imports millions of pounds of animal fur every year. I’ve signed a letter urging the Government to fully commit to ending this cruel trade by banning all fur sales & imports.

📸 Women being covertly filmed in public then posted online for profit or engagement is vile & unacceptable. This abuse is often rooted in & perpetuated by misogynistic attitudes. Making misogyny a hate crime would send a clear message & give police stronger powers to protect women & girls.👇

On #EmergencyMedicineDay, we recognise A&E teams across the UK working hard to deliver life-saving care, despite huge NHS pressures. In 2025, almost 1 in 7 NHS staff were physically attacked at work. Healthcare workers deserve dignity & respect - today we renew our commitment to their safety.

Reform & the British far-right are making abortion a new front in the culture wars, threatening to reverse decriminalisation & spreading disinformation. We cannot allow women’s hard-won reproductive rights to be rolled back. Read @opendemocracy.net & @fullerproject.org’s shocking investigation👇

This was a horrendous crime. Rape is a profoundly traumatic experience, and the victims have shown real courage and bravery in coming forward. The system must support them and ensure their voices are heard. The Attorney General should conduct the review swiftly and decisively.

Really enjoyed joining the Bath Festivals thought-provoking event 'Europe: Where Do We Go From Here?' last weekend. I firmly believe that building closer ties with Europe will support our businesses, strengthen our economy & restore cultural opportunities that our young people especially have lost.

A thoughtful discussion with B&NES CEO Sophie Broadfield today on the opportunities & challenges ahead for Bath. We looked at what’s best for Bath amid potential legislation changes around how local government works & how its regional devolved powers can most effectively be used.

What a treat to be at St Michael’s Junior School in Twerton again today, getting involved in their “Music Friday”. This brilliant programme delivered by the Orchestra of Everything Foundation sees every child learn at least one instrument – and over 80% learn two!

Reform and the Greens can make big promises to voters, but they’ve not yet been tested in delivering them. Now that Reform is running councils, we’re seeing the reality: chaos, broken promises & disappointment. Unlike them, we @libdems.org.uk have a proven record of delivering for communities.

Social media giants have dodged responsibility while their algorithms spread harmful content to children. They’ve repeatedly prioritised clicks over safety. Our @libdems.org.uk plan for film-style social media age ratings would force platforms to protect users - or face tougher restrictions.

Reports of misogyny & sexual misconduct in tattoo studios are unacceptable. No one with a prior sexual assault conviction should work in spaces where clients are vulnerable & often alone with artists for hours. I support mandatory background checks on artists to keep people safe.

I welcome the Government tackling exploitative zero-hours contracts. But ministers must ensure the reforms don’t remove the flexibility valued by many students and workers in Bath, who rely on part-time, flexible jobs to support their studies or work around their lives.

Great to attend the Mondelez drop-in in Parliament. Home to iconic brands like Cadbury, Mondelez employs 3,800+ people in the UK & spent £1.3bn on UK suppliers in 2025. We must continue backing industries like the food & drink sector which create jobs, support suppliers & drive economic growth.

At the launch of King Edward’s School’s Transforming Lives Through Education bursary I heard personal reflections on the transformative impact of bursary support. I look forward to following the pathways of more talented young people from lower-income families who will benefit from this new scheme.

Labour has once again refused to take the steps needed to repair our relationship with the EU & boost our economy by rejecting a new UK-EU customs union. The Government's red lines on the EU make no sense. As long as Labour clings to them, Britain will keep paying the price.

I love cycling & want more people to be able to travel by bike.🚲 It was great to join @libdems.org.uk colleagues & @cyclinguk.bsky.social to discuss how we can boost cycling rates & make it feel safer. I look forward to working together so more people can experience the joys of cycling.

Beautiful visit with the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) to the Chelsea Flower-show. This year’s show concentrates on community and natural planting schemes with trees & wildflowers. The mental health benefits from creating even small green spaces in our urban environments are indisputable.

Brexit has done huge damage to our economy & weakened vital security ties with our EU allies. That’s why we Lib Dems have tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech urging the Government to negotiate a new UK–EU Customs Union. It’s time Labour takes real action to fix our relationship with the EU.

The Government's scrapping of the planned fuel duty rise is not nearly enough for the families being crushed under ballooning everyday costs. The Chancellor must take bolder action & back our @libdems.org.uk plan to slash 12p off every litre of fuel at her cost of living announcement tomorrow.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders are gathering evidence for an inquiry into eating disorders in marginalised & underrepresented communities. All experiences shared will inform the APPG’s upcoming report & recommendations to the Government. Please find our survey below👇

Great to speak with researchers from the Great Western Supercluster of Hydrogen Impact for Future Technologies in Parliament. Hydrogen is vital to decarbonise industries, strengthen our energy security & deliver net zero. Great to see our region, led by @uniofbath.bsky.social, at the forefront.

Green spaces are vital for our health, environment & climate. As the Government commits to building 1.5 million homes this Parliament, we must not lose sight of protecting & creating green space - from parks to green roofs. I chaired an IPT discussion on how to ensure new development deliver this.

Affordability checks on horse racing betting would put the industry at serious risk. Many will refuse to supply personal financial information for these intrusive checks - they’ll instead turn to the unregulated illegal market. I’ve signed a letter urging the Government to rethink this proposal.👇

📸 Women are being secretly filmed in public - with these invasive videos posted online for millions to see & hurl misogynistic abuse at. Many are left fearing for their safety & face reputational damage. I brought together leading experts to explore how we can put an end to this vile behaviour.👇

Two constituents contacted me after receiving DBS check letters for people fraudulently using their addresses. DBS checks are vital for safeguarding children & vulnerable people, so accuracy matters. The Government must investigate how this happened and prevent it happening again.

The arrogance here is breathtaking. Treating representing a constituency like a favour to hand to your mate shows utter contempt for the people of Makerfield. Labour’s psychodrama triggered these by-elections so they should pay for them - all £5 million.

Huge congratulations to the Raspberry Penguins & PiPal teams from King Edward’s Junior School on reaching the finals of the PA Consulting Raspberry Pi Competition - with one team also winning the Inspiration Award! To have two teams from the same school reach the finals is a fantastic achievement.👏

Growing Green Open Day on Lower Common West in Victoria Park. A lovely day of celebration showcasing the power of community growing and working with Nature.

Bath’s Party in the City drawing to a close in Bath Abbey with beautiful singing from the combined choirs of West Wiltshire Singers and Bath City Singers

Next stop in Party in the City is The Grapes Pub and some uplifting tunes from the Sad Cowboys.

Bath’s Party in the City in full swing. Hundreds of performers, dozens of venues, a wonderful evening in the city to welcome in the Bath Festivals. Loved the Bishopston Wind Quintet at the Mission Theatre!

I visited Samaritans Bath & was deeply struck by the warmth, reassurance & openness of their phoneline listeners. At a time of growing pressure on mental health, their support is invaluable. They're there 24/7 — so please reach out without fear or judgement. You don't have to face things alone.

⚠️Due to work being undertaken in the Severn Tunnel & Patchway area, train services between South Wales & Bristol Parkway will be disrupted from 23rd May to 9th June. Replacement buses will run between Bristol Parkway & Newport. Other trains will run on alternative routes. Check before you travel.👇

Community energy projects, like Bath & West Community Energy, provide cheap, home-grown renewable power that strengthens our energy security & lowers people's bills. To keep growing community energy, the Government must ensure local people directly benefit from the energy generated where they live.

It's great news that @bathnes.bsky.social are working hard to restore water to the pond in Royal Victoria Park. Their plans to clean, repair, and secure a permanent water supply will help bring this much loved pond back to life for residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come.

Congratulations to Joy Luxford & Ruby Sant on their appointment as co-chairs of the Neighbourhood Board for the Twerton & Whiteway £20m Pride in Place scheme. It’s fantastic to meet them as they begin assembling their Neighbourhood Board alongside inspirational members of the community.

I’ve been campaigning for a trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban to finally end this horrendous practice. I welcome the Government committing to a ban in the King’s Speech - we now need a clear timeline for this. No more delays. No more excuses. We must ban conversion therapy for good.

Brexit has wrapped UK–EU trade in red tape, piling on costs & delays for small businesses. Many now face double tariffs, paying when importing from third countries into the UK & then again when exporting into the EU. To truly back British businesses we must negotiate a new UK–EU customs union.

At the elections, voters sent a clear message: Britain wants change. People want to see the Government tackling the cost of living crisis, fixing our NHS, & cleaning up our communities. The King’s speech we heard yesterday doesn’t do nearly enough to address the insecurity the country faces.

Two of my constituents have received letters suggesting their addresses have been falsely used to obtain DBS checks. DBS checks are vital for safeguarding children & vulnerable people — false information could undermine these protections. I called on the Government to urgently investigate this 👇

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week. I’ve long campaigned for better support for people with mental health conditions, with a particular focus on those suffering from eating disorders. Awareness is vital, but real change only comes when we take action too. #MHAW

Men are using Meta AI glasses to secretly film women at beaches, shops, on the street & on nights out. They then post these clips online where they receive a barrage of misogynistic abuse. I’m campaigning to make this behaviour an offence. Women deserve to feel safe in public spaces.

Despite what GB News would have you believe, we @libdems.org.uk made major gains in these elections. People are voting for us because they know we’ll take on Reform and deliver the change communities are crying out for. People are backing us Lib Dems; these results prove it.