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Welcome to my website

It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Southwark and Bermondsey since 1983. I am really pleased to have been chosen again to represent the renamed constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark, with more votes than ever before. Thank you.

I have always worked hard to stand up for civil liberties and human rights, reduce poverty, protect our environment and make sure that the voices of our local communities are heard in parliament.

In December 2010 I was asked by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to act as the Government's Advocate for Access to Education. I was delighted to accept this role and I submitted my final report to government in July. You can find out more about what I did in this role and see a copy of my final report here.

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My work in Parliament

As the Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP for the last 28 years I was elected to represent my constituents nationally.

House of Commons

I am proud to have been one of the busiest parliamentarians, speaking out on all sorts of issues from the environment, housing, crime and immigration to civil liberties and equality. I speak in debates, ask questions, and vote. Recent answers to questions and interventions I have made in debates can be found on They Work for You (external website).

Find out more about my work in parliament and how it works

Helping my constituents

As the MP over the last 28 years I have every week helped hundreds of local people with housing, finance, employment immigration, schools, policing, health and many other issues. I take up individual problems with government, the GLA, the local council and other bodies and was able to ask questions in parliament about the issues which my constituents raise with me.

To find out more about how I can help you, look at my work in the constituency.

I also take up wider community matters such as campaigning for the C10 bus service and protesting against local post office closures. To have your say, please take part in my surveys and petitions.Simon and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Colleagues call on the government to save the cheque

The diverse nature of our community and the different needs and views of residents is what has made my job as a local MP so interesting and so challenging. To find out more about the area, take a look at the map of the constituency.

Simon with the community at the King's Stairs Gardens Nature Day March 2011

Here you can see my diary and find out what I have been up to! This covers my work in Bermondsey and Old Southwark, in Parliament, as the government's Advocate for Access to Education and campaigning with the Liberal Democrats.

With such a diverse and culturally rich constituency, I am lucky enough to be invited to many different meetings, ceremonies and events. Over the last 28 years as MP I have built ties with many groups in the area - I am always keen to strengthen these and make more.

NEWS from
Simon Hughes MP

  • Getting young people earning or learning - Simon Hughes MP
    Article: Feb 21, 2012

    Today (Tuesday, 21st February) Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg has announced £360,103 to get young people in Southwark who are not at the moment in employment, education or training (NEET), back into learning or learning again.

    As part of Nick Clegg's Youth Contract, the Coalition government will, for the first time, target funding through tailored support on a payment-by-results system to 16 and 17-year-olds with no GCSEs at A* - C who are at the highest risk of long-term disengagement.

  • Simon Hughes MP's response to the consultation on the proposed merger of Southwark and Lewisham Colleges
    Article: Feb 21, 2012

    Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, today submitted his response to the consultation on the proposed merger of Southwark and Lewisham Colleges, in which he registered his wholehearted support for the merger.

    The full text of his response can be found below:

    Merger Proposal Consultation - Southwark College and Lewisham College

  • Raising the tax-free threshold to £10,000
    Article: Feb 20, 2012

    In tough times, I believe you should keep more of the money that you earn. That's why the Liberal Democrats want to see the tax-free threshold raised to £10,000 - giving you a tax cut when you need it most.

    Liberal Democrat plans would save working people £700 a year -that's an extra £60 in your wages every month. And more than 3.5million older and low-paid people will be freed from paying any income tax altogether.

  • Southwark Cycling Crisis Summit
    Article: Feb 16, 2012

    Southwark Cycling Crisis Summit

    Thursday 8th March at 7pm in the Albrighton Community Centre,

    Dog Kennel Hill SE22 8AH

    It is great that cycling is currently on the political agenda. On Thursday 8th March, Southwark Liberal Democrats are bringing together our local communities to discuss cycling in Southwark and London, and how our streets can be made safer and more appealing to cyclists.

  • Simon Hughes MP's response to the Elephant and Castle Planning Consultation
    Article: Feb 15, 2012

    Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, this week submitted his response to the Elephant and Castle Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)/Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) consultation, in which he makes a range of recommendations including: improving the connectivity between rail, tube and buses; remodelling the roundabout, installing segregating cycling lanes on main roads and removing the subways to make it more cycing and pedestrian friendly; attracting national brand shops to the shopping centre while retaining its diverse character and local multicultural businesses; demolishing and rebuilding the leisure centre; ensuring there is sufficient social housing and affordable housing built, alongside adequate NHS services and school places to cope with the local population growth; and ensuring there are enough good quality green spaces.

  • Simon Hughes MP's leasehold advice surgery with LEASE
    Article: Feb 13, 2012

    Simon Hughes MP will be holding a special advice surgery for leaseholders in his constituency on Friday, 24th February 2012. The surgery will be run in partnership with LEASE, the Leasehold Advisory Service, and will give constituents the chance to discuss their leasehold concerns face-to-face with an expert adviser.

  • Simon Hughes MP's response to the Thames Tunnel Phase 2 consultation
    Article: Feb 13, 2012

    Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, this week submitted his response to the Thames Tunnel Phase 2 consultation, in which he proposes an independent review of whether a long tunnel remains the best approach to meet the environmental objectives that have been defined for the Thames.

    The full text of his response can be found below:

  • Simon Hughes MP's statement regarding his settlement with News International
    Article: Feb 8, 2012

    Speaking today about his settlement with News International over phone hacking, Simon Hughes, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons, made the follwing statement:

    "I have today settled my claim against News International in relation to the hacking of my phone.

    "I have settled because I am completely satisfied that the evidence which currently exists in relation to my case has been disclosed to or is being made available to my lawyers.

  • Labour Southwark refuse to cap staff pay at Prime Minister's salary
    Article: Feb 8, 2012

    At last night's Overview & Scrutiny Meeting, Labour Councillors refused to back a Liberal Democrat proposal to cap the salary of senior council officials at £142,500 (the salary of the Prime Minister).

    The proposals were put forward as part of a discussion over a consultation document from the Labour leader about restructuring the council's top management structure.

  • Simon Hughes announces new MP's apprenticeship at Southwark College construction training programme to mark National Apprenticeship Week
    Article: Feb 7, 2012

    Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, on Monday this week spoke at a Bermondsey apprentice skills competition and careers event to mark the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week. At the event, Simon announced that he would, in the next couple of months and for the first time, take on an apprentice in his own office. On Tuesday Simon also attended the official launch of The Fire Station on Tooley Street, a pioneering social enterprise hub which will see the introduction of even more apprenticeships, just as the government announced new figures which revealed that in Bermondsey and Old Southwark 680 people benefitted from an apprenticeship last year, an increase of 116% , more than double last year.

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