The Shrewsbury Green Party took to Pride Hill on Saturday to raise awareness about a new Parliamentary Bill that aims to protect workers by setting a maximum workplace temperature.

The Maximum Workplace Temperature Bill was introduced into Parliament by Green MP Hannah Spencer last week and already has found cross-party support from some Labour, Plaid Cymru, SNP, and Your Party MPs. The Bill aims to set a maximum safe workplace temperature established via an independent body. Its next reading is on Friday 16 October.

The Bill comes as heatstroke cases have been putting Shropshire hospitals under stress and more than 2,700 excess deaths estimated in England and Wales from the May and June heatwaves. Workers have particularly been suffering the effects of the record heat, with bus drivers in the West Midlands reporting 40C heat in their cabs, raising concerns over the potential for accidents. In London, bus drivers have been experiencing punishing 50C temperatures.

On Saturday local Green Party members found a suitably ‘warm' reception for the Bill on Pride Hill as they talked to shoppers and asked about their experiences of working in the recent heat.

Jim Reekie, Membership Officer for the Shrewsbury Green Party, says:

‘Speaking to people on Pride Hill was eye-opening. Lots of people didn’t know that the UK doesn’t have any laws for maximum working temperatures. We also heard firsthand stories about the impact of the heatwaves. One young man told us about working in a chain restaurant in the town and struggling in the heat in the kitchens as temperatures outside hit the 30s. Others talked about working as builders, lorry drivers, and as labourers in the fields around town as temperatures soared. We also had a lot of parents talking about the impact of hot classrooms on their children and how worried they were about the lack of air conditioning. It’s great to see the Green Party’s newest MP championing a Bill that protects ordinary working people. This is what the Green Party is all about.’

Following the stall on Saturday, Shrewsbury’s MP Julia Buckley posted on Facebook that she would be happy to support the Bill.

Jim Reekie says:

‘We’re pleased that Julia Buckley is supporting Hannah’s Bill. It’s good to know that the MP for Shrewsbury understands this issue is a “hot topic”. Having lived and worked in Spain, where summer temperatures regularly match those we’ve seen this year and there is national legislation to protect workers, I know how important laws like this are to keep people safe and society functioning. Employers need to look after their staff in extreme heat.’

The successive heatwaves this year have seen workers and school children forced to cope with rapidly rising temperatures. In contrast to the summer of 1976, 2026 has already seen more days above 30°C than the whole of that historic year. 2026 is also the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July and we’re only halfway through the summer.

Shrewsbury Green Party Councillor Julian Dean says:

‘I’ve messaged Hannah Spencer to update her on the news from Shrewsbury. We’d love to see other Shropshire MPs follow Julia Buckley MP’s lead and support this cross-party Bill ahead of its second reading in October. I have heard from lots of parents about the struggles pupils and staff face in local schools to cope with the heat. I have asked Julia Buckley to write to ministers to ask what support there is for Shropshire schools to introduce energy efficiency, clean energy and effective cooling measures. We urgently need to ensure teachers and students can learn in a safe and comfortable environment because this won’t be the last heatwave we see.’