Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Alexander Brock

Here's how Bristol MPs have voted on environmental issues

Parliament declared a climate emergency last year but there's still a varying level of commitment to the issue among MPs.

The House of Commons regularly votes on a range of environmental policies from fracking to carbon emissions.

Among those who have voted and taken part in debates are the four MPs from inner Bristol - Karin Smyth (Bristol South), Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West), Darren Jones (Bristol North West) and Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East).

As Bristol Live launches its #Do1Thing campaign, which aims to get people in Bristol making small changes to their lifestyle in order to fight climate change, we've compiled a list of things you can do to make a difference.

With Bristol being considered one of the greenest cities in the UK, it's perhaps no surprise the four Labour Party MPs have mostly voted in favour of measures to prevent climate change.

However, Conservative Party MPs in constituencies further away from the centre of Bristol, such as Filton and Bradley Stoke, have at times voted against proposals designed to tackle climate change.

You can find out more about each MP's voting record, according to TheyWorkForYou.com, below.

Karin Smyth

Constituency: Bristol South

Areas covered: Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hengrove, Hartcliffe, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, Windmill Hill

The Labour MP for Bristol South has almost always voted for measures to prevent climate change.

As well as supporting the idea of a green industrial revolution, she has consistently voted for policies which aim to reduce carbon emissions.

These include reducing the permitted carbon dioxide emission rate of new homes and setting a target for the UK to reduce emissions.

She was also in favour of using renewable biomass, such as wood and other plant material, in former coal power stations.

In a debate on fracking, she voted against greater restrictions to extract natural shale gas.

You can contact Karin Smyth's office by calling 0117 953 3575 or by emailing karin.smyth.mp@parliament.uk.

Thangam Debbonaire

Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire (Parliament TV)

Constituency: Bristol West

Areas covered: Ashley, Bishopston, Central, Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham, Easton, Hotwells, Harbourside, Lawrence Hill, Redland

The MP for Bristol West has generally voted for measures to prevent climate change despite being absent from July 2015 to September 2016.

During this period, the new shadow Brexit Minister was receiving treatment for cancer and her absence was matched by a Conservative MP absence.

Since then however, she has supported using renewable biomass in former coal power stations and voted against VAT increases on the installation of energy saving materials.

She has not voted on fracking or high speed rail before.

You can contact Thangam Debbonaire's office by calling 0207 219 0974 or by emailing thangam.debbonaire.mp@parliament.uk.

Check your carbon footprint:

Darren Jones

Darren Jones is re-elected as Labour MP for Bristol North West (BristolLive)

Constituency: Bristol North West

Areas covered: Avonmouth, Henbury, Henleaze, Horfield, Kingsweston, Lockleaze, Southmead, Stoke Bishop, Westbury-on-Trym

The Labour MP for Bristol North West has previously voted for measures to prevent climate change.

Most noticeably, he supported the idea of a green industrial revolution to 'decarbonise' the economy.

He was also in favour of using renewable biomass, such as wood and other plant material, in former coal power stations.

He has yet to vote on new high speed rail infrastucture.

You can contact Darren Jone's office by calling 0117 959 6545 or by emailing darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk.

Kerry McCarthy

Constituency: Bristol East

Areas covered: Brislington East, Brislington West, Eastville, Frome Vale, Hillfields, St George East, St George West, Stockwood

The Labour MP for Bristol East has generally voted for measures to prevent climate change.

She voted for a green industrial revolution, to set a 'decarbonisation' target for the UK and for the energy industry to require a strategy for carbon capture.

Back in 2015, she also voted against applying the Climate Change Levy tax to electricity generated from renewable sources.

You can contact Kerry McCarthy's office by calling 020 7219 4510 or emailing kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk.

Jack Lopresti

Constituency: Filton and Bradley Stoke

Areas covered: Almondsbury, Bradley Stoke Central and Stoke Lodge, Bradley Stoke North, Bradley Stoke South, Downend, Filton, Frenchay & Stoke Park, Patchway, Pilning and Severn Beach, Staple Hill, Stoke Gifford, Winterbourne

The Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke has generally voted against measures to prevent climate change, according to TheyWorkForYou.

He voted against a green industrial revolution like much of the Conservative Party and also voted not to reduce the permitted carbon dioxide rate of new homes.

In addition, he supported applying the Climate Change Levy tax to electricity generated from renewable sources.

On other issues, the MP voted for higher taxes on plane tickets and for new high speed rail infrastructure.

You can contact Jack Lopresti's office by calling 020 7219 7070 or by emailing jack.lopresti.mp@parliament.uk.

Luke Hall

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall (Dan Regan)

Constituency: Thornbury and Yate

Areas covered: Alveston, Boyd Valley, Charfield, Cromhall, Chipping Sodbury, Cotsworld Edge, Dodington, Frampton Cotterell, Thornbury, Westerleigh, Yate

The Conservative MP for Thornbury and Yate has consistently voted against measures to prevent climate change, according to TheyWorkForYou.

These include rejecting proposals for a green industrial revolution, to reduce the permitted carbon dioxide emission rate of new homes and for the energy industry to require a strategy for carbon capture.

He also supported greater restrictions on fracking to extract natural shale gas and voted for new high speed rail infrastructure.

You can contact Luke Hall's office by calling 01454 311 267 or by emailing luke.hall.mp@parliament.uk.

#Do1Thing: 20 things you can do to help tackle climate change

Chris Skidmore

Constituency: Kingswood

Areas covered: Bitton and Oldland Common, Hanham, Kingswood, New Cheltenham, Woodstock, Longwell Green, Parkwall & Warmley

According to TheyWorkForYou, the Conservative MP for Kingswood has generally voted against measures to prevent climate change.

Most recently, he voted against a green industrial revolution to 'decarbonise' the economy and voted not to reduce the permitted carbon dioxide emission rate of new homes.

He was also against setting a target for the UK to reduce its carbon emissions.

On other environmental issues, he has consistently voted for higher taxes of plane tickets and has been in favour of new high speed rail.

You can contact Chris Skidmore's office by calling 020 7219 7094 or by emailing chris.skidmore.mp@parliament.uk.

Liam Fox

North Somerset MP Liam Fox (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Constituency: Somerset North

Areas covered: Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead, Winford, Wraxall and Long Ashton, Wrington, Yatton

According to TheyWorkForYou, the Conservative MP for Somerset North voted against a proposal for a green industrial revolution to 'decarbonise' the economy, like much of his party.

He was also against reducing the permitted carbon dioxide emission rate of new homes and voted against a proposal for the energy industry to have a strategy for carbon capture.

On other environmental issues, he voted for higher taxes on plane tickets and for new high speed rail infrastructure.

He also voted a mixture of for and against greater regulation of fracking to extract shale gas.

For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark  Bristol Live's homepage .

You can follow us on Twitter  here  and on Facebook  here  and  here .

You can also join our  traffic and travel,   crime  and  parenting  Facebook groups.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.