Today I wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice to express my full support for the Government’s response to Sir Brian Leveson’s Review into Criminal Courts. Victims in the Forest of Dean — and across the country — are waiting far too long for justice. Some are being told their trials may not be heard for years. That is simply unacceptable. The reforms announced this week will:  Put victims at the centre of the justice system  Cut the courts backlog  Stop people “gaming th

Thank you to all the pupils and children across the Forest of Dean who have entered my 2025 Christmas Card Competition! There have been so many fantastic entries, and I’ve loved seeing the imagination and creativity from children across our communities. I’ll now begin the difficult task of choosing a winner and notify you all of the winner very soon. Good luck to everyone who took part!

A constituent recently contacted my office regarding an error in housing benefit. After trying to resolve it herself for some time, I am pleased that my team and I were able to secure a reimbursement for her. If you or anyone you know is having difficulty with a situation similar to this, please contact my office. We are here to support you! Please reach out via email at matt.bishop.mp@parliament.uk

Let's Talk Well  support so many young people across our region, and I was grateful to meet the team last week to discuss their future plans to further support young people in the Forest of Dean. They’ve helped thousands of local children and young people over the years, and I know many families here will have felt the impact of their amazing work. We talked about their exciting future plans, which will help even more young people get the support they need, when they need it.

I am pleased to share that so many of you across the Forest of Dean have signed up to take part in UK Parliament Week, and we have achieved an excellent result! 1st in the South West! 8th in the country overall! It’s great to see so many young people learning about how our democracy works. We are empowering our young people to use their voices with confidence as they help shape the future of our community. Congratulations once again, and I hope you all enjoy engaging with t

Last week, I joined MPs and representatives from the children’s palliative care sector at an important APPG event. The £80m committed to children’s hospices is a brilliant step forward for palliative care, but many challenges still remain. I look forward to working with Together for Short Lives, alongside my role with Harry’s Pals, to address the challenges families face across the country, and right here at home, in the Forest of Dean.

Ahead of my Public Meeting: Roads & Transport across the Forest of Dean, please submit your questions so panellists and key stakeholders can address your concerns with accuracy. Please be assured that audience questions will be taken on the night, too. You can submit your questions here: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7397685347057927205

Ellwood Community Primary School received the Artsmark award last week, embedding creativity across their pupils’ learning. I was pleased to join their morning Celebration assembly and meet all the students and staff, who told me about the brilliant things they’ve been doing as part of their Artsmark celebrations. Their creativity and engagement meant they received a well-deserving Silver Award. I also had the opportunity to present congratulations gifts for the top five stud

I am hosting a drop-in event for all Forest of Dean constituents to come meet and have a chat with me in December. Please join me during this festive period for a warm drink and a mince pie, where I can hear all about your local and national concerns. Register for your ticket here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../mince-pies-with-matt ...

I know many of you are rightly concerned that Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has now taken the decision to suspend home births for at least six months. Over the past two weeks, the Trust has carried out a thorough review and risk assessment of the home birth service, and it has concluded that the suspension needs to be extended. I am extremely disappointed that this decision has been made and fully recognise the upset, disappointment, and worry that many of yo

A constituent recently contacted my office regarding concerns about an unkept building and surrounding area near their home. The neglected site was attracting antisocial behaviour and causing disruption for nearby residents. After working closely with Forest of Dean District Council, the Town Council, and BT Openreach, my team and I were able to identify the responsible owners and ensure the necessary action was taken. I’m pleased that we were able to support this constituent

At last week’s Justice Committee meeting, I had the opportunity to ask Sir Brian Leveson about his recommendation to increase the sentence discount applied to early guilty pleas.

My thoughts are with my constituents who have been affected by flooding in the Forest of Dean overnight and with our neighbours in Monmouthshire who have been badly impacted by Storm Claudia. My thanks go to the emergency services who worked throughout the night, in often difficult conditions. If you’ve been affected by flooding, I would advise you call Floodline at any time on 0345 988 1188 for advice. For those needing updates please visit the Government website:...

Our pubs are the beating heart of life here in the Forest of Dean—they bring people together, support local musicians, and strengthen our local economy. Following the recent Government consultation on how best to support British pubs, I want to hear directly from you: the landlords, customers, and people who know them best. The Government is looking to tear up outdated licensing rules that have been holding back pubs, bars and local events. The shake-up could mean more live m

I fully support Labour’s plans to abolish Police & Crime Commissioners. For more than a decade, PCCs have added an extra political layer to policing without delivering the clear accountability that communities were promised. In many areas, including ours, the system has led to confusion about who is responsible for what, and whether these roles genuinely improve local policing. Labour’s plan is about restoring clarity, improving leadership, and ensuring the public get the eff

Forest of Dean Stone Firms been at the heart of the Forest of Dean for as long as many of us and our families can remember, with their Barnhill Quarry located right next to Cannop Ponds. Earlier this week, I met with Tom and Kirk from Forest of Dean Stone Firms, as well as Lucy from the Stone Federation, to discuss the challenges facing the stone industry and how best I can support them. I was lucky enough to have a tour of the quarry and hear about the impressive skills and

Today, we pause to remember all those who have died in service of our country and expresses gratitude to the brave personnel who continue to serve. We will never forget the sacrifice and service of those who defended our country and fought for our freedom.

I was really keen to meet with students from Coalway Junior School following their trip to Parliament last week! I enjoyed hearing about what they got up to, their highlights, and most importantly, seeing their excitement. Inspiring the next generation and bringing young voices to the forefront is so important. Working with schools and encouraging students’ political engagement will always be a priority for me! Thank you, Coalway Junior School, for having me!

I’m inviting all Forest of Dean constituents to a public meeting to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding our roads and transport. I know how many of you are fed up with the state of our roads and the limited transport options available. I share that frustration. Whether it’s sitting in long queues commuting to work, struggling to reach hospital appointments on time, waiting at endless temporary lights with no visible work taking place, or dealing with potholes that damage y