@simonforstroud
Labour’s MP for Stroud and GP. For help and support for constituents email me at simon.opher.mp@parliament.uk Abusive/irrelevant comments may be hidden and those who post them blocked. www.simonopher.org linktr.ee/simonforstroud
If we are serious about restoring nature, we need businesses to invest in the wider health of our landscapes even where the financial return is not immediate. It’s an investment in resilience, in communities, and in the future of our environment. (4/4)
In Stroud, we have a Natural Flood Management scheme which has restored 13.45km of watercourse and over 15 hectares of habitat. Projects like this deliver huge benefits for communities and wildlife, but they require maintenance, care and adaptation over time to reach full potential. (3/4)
Across the country there are already excellent schemes making a real difference, but many are struggling to secure the ongoing investment they need to continue and grow. (2/4)
This morning I took part in a panel discussion about how we can work in partnership with industry to secure the best outcomes for nature.
I spoke about the need for sustained, long-term funding rather than one-off interventions for new projects. (1/4)
I've supported them since day one, meeting regularly with NHS Trust Leaders and bringing striking Phlebotomists to Parliament to meet MPs and Ministers. I've been clear that Phlebotomists should be recognised as Band 3, and I hope that the Job Evaluation panel comes to the same conclusion. (3/3)
They will still have to wait for an outcome from the Job Evaluation panel to determine their banding, but this is a positive step in the right direction. (2/3)
I'm really pleased to hear that Phlebotomists in Gloucestershire have secured a review of their pay banding, and will be back at work next week. This brings to a close the longest NHS strike in history after 349 days of industrial action. (1/3)
Huge thanks to everyone who makes this fantastic festival happen, including Anna Gormley and Hatty Frances Bell (pictured here), who help curate such a brilliant programme.
There are still a few days left to catch some great films, so do take a look:
www.stroudfilmfestival.org (2/2)
On Sunday I went to see Mother Vera as part of Stroud Film Festival, a really thought-provoking documentary about liberation, faith and community. (1/2)
Listening to those on the frontlines is a powerful reminder of the crisis and the urgent need for action. (4/4)
Continued attacks and blockades mean the healthcare system is struggling to rebuild. Israel has refused to renew the registration of a number of humanitarian NGOs – including MSF – which would prevent them from operating and mean hundreds of thousands of patients losing access to care. (3/4)
Healthcare in Gaza has been deliberately and systematically destroyed. Hospitals, clinics and ambulances have been bombed; healthcare workers have been killed while at work and at home; and medical supplies have been blocked from reaching those in desperate need. (2/4)
Last week I hosted an event with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF), where MPs heard directly from Palestinian healthcare workers and international staff recently returned from Gaza. (1/4)
It’s International Women’s Day.
My daughter Martha is a brilliant ceramicist. Her work is part of an exhibition that has just opened at the Centrespace Gallery in Bristol - Women by Women.3
20% of sales go to the Global Fund for Women.
#IWD #i̇nternationalwomensday
Potholes cost Stroud's drivers about £320 pa. That's £25m out of our local economy.
Labour are putting an extra £177m into fixing Gloucestershire's roads. But is the system working? I'd like to hear people's experiences:
tinyurl.com/SimonOpherSu...
Photo credit to Matt Bigwood/Stroud Times.
I've just got back from a brilliant morning at SGS College in Stroud, part of their celebration of Colleges Week.
The energy, engagement and attitude of the students blew me away - as did the positivity and commitment of the staff.
What an amazing place!
Very pleased that the workers at WSP have managed to successfully settle their dispute.
Join a union.
@unitesouthwest.bsky.social @unitetheunion.bsky.social
Pretty much home now.
I love buses.
With my friend Naz Shah celebrating World Book Day.
Today also marks the publication of her memoir 'Honoured' which is an incredibly powerful story of survival, resilience and her journey into politics. I’m proud to know Naz and look forward to reading it.
I'm pleased by this decision - but it does not mean better access for medical personnel or more medicine into Gaza. Within days Israel imposed a total closure on the West Bank and Gaza.
Healthcare workers should be allowed secure access to all casualties; aid should be freely available for all.
This week I had the pleasure of hosting first year BA Communications and Media students, alongside MA Communications, Media and PR students from the University of Gloucestershire.
They asked some tricky questions... a real credit to the quality of the teaching on the course!
👀 Watch APPG member Simon Opher, Labour MP for Stroud, call for a National Commission on Electoral Reform to address Westminster’s flawed voting system
Simon Opher, Labour MP for Stroud, calls for a National Commission on Electoral Reform 👇
This Bill does not touch on electoral reform however. I'm calling on the Government to establish an electoral commission to look at alternatives to First Past the Post.
People should be able to vote for the best person, not the best guess. (3/3)
The Bill will:
-Extend the voting age to 16 for all UK elections with
-Make citizenship compulsory from primary school,
-Tighten and modernise the rules around political donations
-Introduce stronger protections for candidates, campaigners and electoral staff facing abuse and intimidation (2/3)
Last night I voted for the Representation of the People Bill, a landmark step to increase participation and fairness in our democracy. (1/3)
I’m encouraging schools to support students to take part and make their views heard. If you’re a young person, parent or teacher in Stroud, please get involved. (3/3)
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Young people understand the digital world better than anyone. It’s vital that we create space for them to share their experiences and help shape what comes next. (2/3)
I’ve written to every school across the district inviting them to take part in this important consultation. From potential social media bans and AI chatbot restrictions to the impact of gaming, this 3-month consultation will shape how young people interact with technology in the years ahead. (1/3)
History shows us that every missile fired will create dozens of new terrorists in the future – as was the case in Iraq. Drawing the UK into a war makes us all less safe, not more – we should learn from history.
We need to stand firm against any further escalation. (3/3)
