Wera Hobhouse MP
Lib Dem MP for Bath 🔶
Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee Member 🌍
Championing women’s rights by helping to criminalise upskirting (2019) and make workplaces safer (2023)🧑⚖️
Published and promoted by Wera Hobhouse at 31 James St. West, BA1 2BT.
- Over a year after first raising the issue in Parliament, children are still being sold Spice-laced vapes online. I met with Minister Narayan, @uniofbath.bsky.social's Stephen Husbands, and representatives from Ofcom to discuss how we can protect children & hold social media platforms accountable.
- I was deeply moved hearing directly from midwives in Parliament about the daily pressures they face. Safe staffing is crucial for safe maternity care. Bath’s RUH shows what’s possible with the right support, but we need proper investment to ensure every mother & baby gets the care they deserve.👩🍼
- Almost four years on from the war, I was proud to celebrate the launch of Bath’s Ukrainian Education Hub in Parliament. These hubs play a vital role in bringing communities together through learning & support. Thank you to all involved & to the people of Bath for their warmth & solidarity. 🇺🇦
- The Government rightly warns the public of the dangers heatwaves pose to our health. But we must also be honest in our messaging: this is climate change in action. Failure to address the climate crisis will mean more extreme weather - putting more lives at risk.
- If the EU is open to discussing a new UK-EU customs union, the Government must seize the opportunity. Brexit has strangled businesses, raised prices & buried exporters in red tape. We @libdems.org.uk have long been clear - a bespoke customs union is the quickest way to jumpstart our economy. 🇪🇺🇬🇧
- Great to meet with NAHT B&NES to hear from local headteachers about the pressures schools are facing. Schools across the country are struggling to cope with limited Government funding, reduced student numbers and a SEND system in crisis. It’s time for proper investment into our schools.
- The Canal and River Trust is entrusted to look after our precious waterways . The restoration of our canal network has been a real success story creating new habitats for wildlife, access to nature to millions of people and building new communities on and around our waterways.
- Allowing oil & gas exploration in protected areas completely undermines their purpose. It’s shameful the UK is among the worst offenders. The Government must step up & protect our seas, starting by refusing approval for the Rosebank project - the pipeline for which cuts through a protected area.
- It's disgraceful people are dying on cancer waiting lists after months - sometimes a year - without treatment. That's why, this World Cancer Day we @libdems.org.uk are demanding a law to ensure 100% of cancer patients start treatment within 62 days of urgent referral. Early treatment saves lives.
- The revelations about Mandelson raise serious questions. How was he appointed US ambassador, and how did sensitive government information leak without anyone noticing? Only a full statutory public inquiry can uncover the truth and deliver justice for Epstein’s victims.
- I recently met with local domestic abuse charities Developing Health and Independence, Voices & The Nelson Trust. Joined-up services save lives & support recovery. I asked the Government how we can encourage collaboration nationally - rather than forcing charities to compete for limited funding.👇
- The British Metal Recycling Association is launching its Net Zero roadmap. Recycling metals avoids energy-intensive primary production and is key to cutting emissions. A UK shift to Electric Arc Furnaces and recycled metal could save 4 million tonnes of CO₂ every year.
- From urging the Government to back innovative green technologies like Drift Energy in Bath, to calling for infrastructure to protect women cyclists 🚲- 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 📸👇
- Rates relief for only pubs & music venues is a slap in the face to the cafes, restaurants, theatres, small shops & more left still struggling. The Government must give retail, hospitality & leisure businesses a full 20p rates discount & back our @libdems.org.uk call for an emergency 5% VAT cut.
- Great to visit the Accident & Emergency Department at the RUH last week. I saw first hand how staff are working incredibly hard in the most challenging circumstances - with attendances at record levels this winter. They deserve our thanks and a system that truly supports them.🏥🚑
- From February 4th to March 13th, the lift to Platform 2 at Bath Spa station will be out of service due to upgrades. Passengers needing assistance should speak to station staff. Those unable to use stairs are asked, where possible, to contact GWR Passenger Assist before travelling to get support.
- It’s sickening that women are being covertly filmed & this violating footage is shared online. Online tools & platforms are enabling new ways to harass women. That's why the Government must back our @libdems.org.uk call to create a dedicated online crime agency to tackle these threats head on.
- I am deeply concerned that Starmer is failing to properly stand up to China. I understand the importance of improving our trading relationship, but it must never cost us our values. The CCP must be criticised for their human rights abuses & the shocking imprisonment of Jimmy Lai.
- Bath’s new Ukrainian Education Hub is more than a place for classes & courses. It's a community - a space where Ukrainians can integrate into local life, build confidence & gain new skills, while remaining connected to their roots. It was an honour to celebrate the opening ceremony with them.
- February is LGBT+ History Month. This month, we celebrate the contributions of LGBTQ+ people throughout history, reflect on the struggles they've faced & renew our commitment to equality. We @libdems.org.uk have a proud legacy fighting for equality & will keep pushing for a more inclusive future.
- Great to join Newbridge councillors Michelle and Sammy at their ward surgery on Saturday. We discussed the importance of improved street lighting in poorly lit areas, such as near the river and footpaths, to ensure everyone feels safe to walk and cycle during the dark winter months.
- I was not on any sanctions list - yet I was barred from Hong Kong. I’ve had no clarity on how “lifted sanctions” affect MPs like me. A reset that ignores secret bans on British MPs isn’t a reset. We must be free to criticise China without fear. China must lift any and all bans on its critics.
- Back Bath’s buses.🚌 Bus services already fail Bath's residents every day with delays, cancellations & less routes. Shamefully, the Government's has reduced bus funding for the West of England which will mean more cuts to vital services. Sign our Lib Dem petition to properly fund our buses.👇
- Following my intervention in Parliament, it's great funding has been released for Bath’s new special school at the Culverhay site. But securing funding is only the beginning. I’ll keep working with @bathnes.bsky.social to push the Government to get this school built as quickly as possible.
- We Liberal Democrats are standing up for everyone who believes in a decent, compassionate country.
- When I tried to go to Hong Kong, I was barred from entering. It's only visa-free travel until you speak up against human rights abuses or criticise the threat China poses. Silence is the real entry requirement.
- The Kennet & Avon Canal in Bath should be a place everyone can enjoy. That's why I’m calling on the Government to work with the Canal & River Trust to ensure that proportionate powers are given to enforcement agencies, alongside proper safeguards for boaters so our waterways are welcoming for all.
- The Government's choice to again deny WASPI Women compensation is an utter betrayal. They have turned their back on millions of women & ignored the independent Ombudsman’s findings. It's disgraceful. We @libdems.org.uk will be pressing ministers to give them the fair treatment they deserve.
- It's insulting to ask families to pay more in a cost-of-living crisis while rivers are treated like sewers & customers sometimes go without water.💧 Households shouldn’t foot the bill for private water firms’ failures. We @libdems.org.uk are demanding Ofwat be scrapped for a new tougher regulator.
- Community energy should benefit the communities hosting and running these projects. They should feel the benefits every day with the energy supply produced being used by local people.⚡ I asked what progress is being made to allow this to happen.
- We welcome boaters who live on our canals – they make our waterways safer & are valued residents of our city.🛶 But a small minority let everyone down: dumping toilet waste, blocking towpaths, and abandoning sinking boats. This harms residents and responsible boaters who call our canals home.
- Too often we’re told climate policies & the push towards Net Zero is driving up people's energy bills. The truth: high gas prices caused two-thirds of the rise in household electricity bills since before the global energy crisis. Investing in clean energy is the best way to slash people's bills.
- In 2019 my Upskirting Bill passed, making it an offence to record underneath a person's clothes without consent. Unfortunately, by the time we legislate against one form of technologically-facilitated abuse, another emerges, like AI & deepfakes. We need a proactive approach to tackle this head on.
- 60% of women limit how much they cycle due to safety concerns.🚲 Too often women must choose between busy roads with little protection or quieter routes with poor lighting. Both are unsafe. I’m calling on the Government to build the infrastructure needed to make women feel safe on our roads.
- The Government says it listened to pubs. Clearly it didn’t. This half-hearted U-turn still leaves many facing crippling business rates hikes on top of the jobs tax. The Government must back our @libdems.org.uk call for an emergency VAT cut for hospitality until April 2027 to save our high streets.
- We need hydrogen for: 1. Shipping (ammonia or methanol) 2. Aircraft (synthetic fuels) 3. Balancing the electricity grid. It all starts with making green hydrogen, and the storage & distribution networks for its use. An opportunity made possible by the UK’s year on year investment in renewables.⚡️
- First-of-a-kind technologies like Bath-based Drift Energy are struggling to access investment & grant funding. Drift is a ground-breaking renewable energy firm that could boost UK energy independence. If the Government doesn't back technologies like this, we will lose our home grown innovators.
- Today on Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the Nazis, and all victims of Nazi persecution. We must reaffirm our commitment to tackling antisemitism and hatred in all its forms.
- Housing associations, like Karbon, face competing demands of upgrading, decarbonising and building more housing - and not enough funding to do it all. I met Karbon to discuss how the Government can support them to deliver more social housing to ensure people can access affordable, secure homes.
- Our hospices are suffering under immense financial pressure forcing them to cut care. This is having a devastating effect with 1 in 5 hospice beds in England having closed. The Government must increase hospice funding. I’ve signed this letter calling for FCA bank fines to be used to fund hospices.
- A pleasure to meet the Polish delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to discuss our shared aim for Energy Security and Net Zero. 60% of Polish energy is still generated by coal.
- It’s been 90 years since Emperor Haile Selassie made Bath his home in exile. In Parliament, I tabled a motion recognising his legacy as the central figure in Rastafarianism & his fight against fascism. His gift of Fairfield House to the city remains a thriving and diverse community hub today.
- Suella Braverman may complain about Britain being broken, but conveniently forgets her role in breaking it under the previous Government. While Reform & the Conservatives both head further to the right, only us @libdems.org.uk are standing up for the silent majority who believe in a decent country.
- From urging the Government to stand up to Trump’s bullying, to pushing for rail companies to improve customer experience🚂 - 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 📸👇
- Modern slavery in the hotel industry can often remain hidden, making it incredibly hard to tackle. That's why Unseen are raising awareness across Bath of the risk of exploitation that workers face - to help victims & workers spot the signs and access support via their helpline.
- If merging forces means officers are less able to respond to local crime, that’s a serious mistake. People want visible, trusted officers & a clear local point of contact. If the Government is serious about restoring neighbourhood policing, it needs to get more officers back on our streets.
- I met with Bathwick Councillors Manda and Toby to discuss tackling anti-social behaviour across their ward. We also talked about how we can continue to work with local police to keep Bath city centre safe and welcoming for all residents.
- After more than a year of raising this issue, the dangerous synthetic drug Spice is still blatantly being sold to children online. The Government must ensure Ofcom fully uses its powers under the Online Safety Act to prevent this, & if the current law cannot stop this then it must be strengthened.
- Great to meet Bathavon North councillors Kevin & Sarah today. We discussed why climate action and sustainability matters and, because the climate emergency is inextricably linked to international security, how we must work towards self-reliance as Trump & Putin continue to cause chaos.
- Bath’s boaters are an amazing community who love our canal & are proud to call it home.🚣♂️ It's important that they know who to turn to when they have issues & are confident these can be resolved quickly. That's why in Parliament I called for the Government to better support the Canal & River Trust.
