Hospitality is on its knees. A 5% VAT cut would give our economy and our high streets the lifeline they need.

So many women and girls lack confidence in the criminal justice system. That's why yesterday I pressed the Justice Minister on the need to ensure police and prosecutors are better trained to understand the trauma of survivors.

The BBC isn't perfect. But it remains an institution defending British values against a populist, Trump-style takeover. Party leaders must unite to defend it.

The government needs to stand up for a truly independent BBC free from political meddling. That means sacking Robbie Gibb and ending the political grip on the BBC board.

Here is a snapshot of what I did last week as your MP.

I’ve had a fascinating visit to Hobbs House Bakery in Chipping Sodbury. As well as watching the bread (and mince pies!) being baked, I found out about the company’s commitment to apprenticeships, and how they are working to reduce their carbon footprint.

I was honoured to be at remembrance services in Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury today. It’s important to remember all those who have served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This week, I laid a memorial in the Parliamentary Garden of Remembrance to honour all those from Thornbury & Yate who stepped up to defend our country. This year I particularly remembered those who served in the Second World War.

Lovely time out talking to residents in sunny Thornbury, alongside local Councillors Maggie Tyrrell, Jayne Stansfield, and the Lib Dem team earlier today.

I was proud to wear pink and join Breast Cancer Now in Parliament to stand with everyone affected by breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month has now come to an end; it was a powerful reminder that there is work to be done to better support people living with this devastating disease.

Kinship’s new report is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure all kinship families get the support they need and deserve. I’ll continue to advocate for kinship carers and their children in Thornbury and Yate. loom.ly/M8SvGtk #ValueOurLove

Embedding modern skills throughout the National Curriculum is vital to preparing pupils for the future. However, we also need to ensure it can be delivered flexibly to those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those unable to access a traditional classroom setting.

On Friday I am hosting local surgeries in both Westerleigh and Pucklechurch. Contact my office to make an appointment if you want to come speak with me.

Here is a brief summary of just some of what I got up to last week as your MP. Sign up for fuller updates via my online newsletter: www.claireyoung.org.uk/newsletter

Great to be out with Jon and Peter dodging the showers and chatting to residents in Frampton Cotterell this afternoon!

The use of an historic and outdated planning consent to build huge industrial warehouses outside of Pilning is worrying. It allows the developer to circumvent the understandable concerns of residents by restricting the issues that can be considered. The Government must address this.

It was an honour to join @commonsspeaker.parliament.uk to mark the 75th anniversary of the rebuilding of the House of Commons after it was bombed during WW2.

Today Nigel Farage tried to tear up people’s rights and take us out of the ECHR. Winston Churchill, a key advocate of it, would be turning in his grave. But, the @libdems.org.uk stopped him - a proud moment and we’ll keep fighting.

Liberal Democrat MPs just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR. Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.

We just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR. Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into a version of Trump's America. We stopped him.

💼 Only 30% of people with autism are in work – far below the national average for disabled people. ✍ Yesterday I asked the Minister about the steps he is taking to ensure adults with autism and other special educational needs can access the workforce.

Things can often move very quickly in politics, and last week was certainly a case of that. Here is just some of what I got up to:

Apprenticeships are a great avenue into work and allow people to learn on the job. However, I am hearing from local small businesses that the way they currently work is hampering them being offered more widely. I am glad the Secretary of State agreed that change is needed.

Don't forget the M4 between Bristol and Bath will be closed this weekend to allow steel beams for the new A432 Badminton Road Bridge to be lifted into place. The M4 will be closed in both directions between junctions 18 and 19 from 7pm, Friday 24th October to 6am, Monday 27th October.

Here is a snapshot of what I got up to last week:

The Tories can shout at me all they like, but the truth is their Brexit deal it is hurting our country and Labour won’t do anything about it. Today I urged the Prime Minister to actually fix it.

This is a welcome move that is long overdue. Water firms need to be held to account firmly and swiftly when they dump sewage into our rivers and seas. Years of lax regulation has let them run amok but thanks to @libdems.org.uk pressure we're finally seeing change.

One of the biggest barriers to students in rural areas accessing vocational studies through FE colleges is that they live so far away, and that travel costs a fortune. I asked the Education Secretary what plans she has to put an end to that barrier.

The Government’s push for more inclusive learning won’t happen without better Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support. That is why it’s vital all school teachers are trained to identify and support children with SEND, so they can get the education they deserve.

It had a great time at St Paul’s Primary School in Yate, watching children enjoying their Bikeability session. It was part of Cycle to School Week, and the kids really enjoyed their time with the South Glos Road Safety Team. Some great cycling - including emergency stops!

I am very concerned to hear about the plans to close the Billington factory in Yate. This operation has been part of Yate’s economy for many years, providing valuable jobs to local people. I have asked for an urgent meeting with Billington’s management to find out more about their plans.

I am pleased to support the campaign for prostate cancer screening. Prostate Cancer Research estimates that an annual investment of £25m to deliver targeted screening would mean an estimated 1,254 years of life saved for the target groups each year.

It was good to meet local businesses to discuss issues that are affecting them. Thank you to Williams Automobiles for hosting us, and for representatives from Fellten EV, Hobbs House Bakery, West-Tec, Bennett Engineering and Bodkin House Hotel who made time to attend.

If we want to ensure all children get the support they need to learn, then we must have a clear definition of what an 'inclusive education' means in practice. Yesterday, I raised this in Parliament and called for an end to draconian disciplinary systems.

Thank you for speaking up about this @claireyoungmp.bsky.social 👏 78% of teachers say children with speech and language challenges are being unfairly punished. These children need support, not sanctions! Sign our petition for fairer schools today: https://bit.ly/44cYbYp

There will be an emergency closure of the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge eastbound tomorrow (Wed 15 Oct). The eastbound carriageway will close between 10pm and 6am for repairs to an expansion joint. Cars will be diverted via the M48 Severn Bridge; HGVs will divert via the M50 and M5. @HighwaysSWEST

National Grid’s Community Matters Fund is offering grants of up to £5,000 to help charities and community groups tackle fuel poverty and improve energy affordability for local households. 
Find out more and apply at: localgiving.org/community-ma... 
@gridcustomersuk #GridCommunityFund

Do you want to have your say on rail travel in the area, especially if you have accessibility issues? A new survey has been launched to find out about people’s experiences of travelling by rail across the West and any challenges they face. www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/t...

Two years ago, we watched in horror those appalling scenes of Hamas’s evil terrorist attack on Israel.

Bus replacement services from Yate and Bristol Parkway to Gloucester and Cheltenham will continue until Wednesday because re-signalling work in Gloucester is overrunning. Safety testing of the new signalling system is taking longer than planned.

Horrified and appalled by the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. My thoughts are with the victims, our brave emergency services and the entire Jewish community.

The date the M4 closure has changed because of delays in the production of the beams for the new Badminton Road bridge. The M4 will now close between the Bath junction and the M32 from 7pm Fri 24 October to 6am Mon 27 October. nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/so...

Here is a brief update about what I've been up to recently as your MP.

I was delighted to be asked to officially open the new Citizens Advice office in Yate. The premises on Station Road are much more spacious and will help the volunteers do their important work. www.southgloscab.org.uk

I had a busy time at @libdems.org.uk Conference. With lots of organisations present, I took the opportunity to meet with them and get action. Here are some of the things I did.

"I don't want a small minority with right wing extremist intentions to hijack our flag. That's not who we are a a British people." @munirawilson.bsky.social on reclaiming the flag for those who want to reunite and rebuild, not divide and destroy. #BBCQT

Many people have contacted me about the increasing number of flags being put up across our area recently. Below is my statement on the situation.

We are overtaking the Conservatives and on the cusp of overtaking Labour too. More and more people are backing the Liberal Democrats to stand up to Reform and stop Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain.