Conflict in Israel & Gaza

This month has seen horrific killings, hostage taking and widespread suffering in Gaza and Israel. Many constituents have contacted me to express their distress, concern and anger. Because of the sheer volume of correspondence, I have also published two statements on my website. They can be read here and here.

Keir Starmer gave a speech on the international situation in the Middle East on 31st October which is here and we also issued a call for a coordinated Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) fund appeal with matched government funding to provide essential humanitarian emergency aid in Gaza, and to create a longer-term fund for the reconstruction of Gaza. More details can be found on my website here.

People in Israel and in Gaza are in vivid fear for their lives, whilst grieving for those already lost. The impact of those events is not confined to the streets of Israel and Gaza; they have a real impact here in Wales, in our own communities.

This month, I have met with Jewish and Muslim constituents at the Cardiff Reform Synagogue and the South Wales Islamic Centre as well as meeting with the police and continuing to liaise with them to ensure that all our communities are safe and can live their lives free of the scourge of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

In Cardiff Central

1,000 New Tech Jobs in Cardiff

Global firm, PwC has announced an expansion of its workforce which will see more than 1,000 new jobs created in Wales by 2028. This will inject tens of thousands of pounds into the Welsh economy.

The Welsh Government is also spending £2m in partnership with PwC to prioritise jobs for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I was especially pleased to see former Cathays High School student, author and now a senior manager at PwC, Hamed Amiri, play a big part in the announcement of this very positive news. 

Read the full story here.

50 years of the Sherman Theatre

On 3rd October 1973, Sherman Theatre welcomed its first audience. Fifty years on, it remains at the heart of cultural life in Cardiff Central, premiering local stories, inspiring young people and nurturing Welsh talent.

As panto season fast approaches, the theatre will be entertaining in both English and Welsh, with their twist on Hansel and Gretel.

Congratulations to the Sherman and here’s to your next 50 years of pioneering productions.

UEFA EURO 2028

Our city has an impressive reputation for hosting major sporting events. We have previously hosted the UEFA Champions League Final (2017), 2012 Olympic Events and the Rugby World Cup Final (1999). Now we can also add the 2028 UEFA European Championships to the list.

This follows the announcement of a successful UK/ Republic of Ireland bid to host the tournament. This will help boost our local economy and enhance our reputation as a global tourist destination.

I’m looking forward to working alongside the Welsh Labour Government, Cardiff Council and the FAW to make this the best European Championships yet.

Local Development Plan Progress

Cardiff saw more than 1,000 new jobs created and 1,681 new homes built between April 2022 and March 2023 according to a new report which evaluates the progress of the city's Local Development Plan (LDP).

Cardiff Labour Council will build on this success in its Replacement LDP which will shape the development of our city until 2036. The Council will seek to:

• Enhance the health and wellbeing of current and future generations,
• Meet the need for new low carbon homes,
• Develop a high accessibility city around active travel and public transport usage,
• Protect and enhance our natural, historic and cultural assets,
• Take bold action on climate change.

Find out more here.

Ban on Single Use Plastics

Welsh Labour has made it a mission to build a greener Wales. This month, we took a big step to meet this goal with a comprehensive ban on some of the most commonly littered single-use plastics.

This will go a long way to prevent plastic pollution from entering our oceans, rivers, parks and streets.

Secondary School Places

Applications for secondary school places in September 2024 are now open. There are lots of great schools in Cardiff, but places go quickly. Please ensure that you have made your FIVE school preferences known before the deadline on Monday 20th November.

Click here for some simple tips to help you apply for a school place.

Celebrating Black History Month

Cardiff has long been home to communities from across the globe. It is these voices and experiences that have helped to shape or local culture, society and history.

This Black History Month, we have fabulous new murals brightening our city and celebrating the diversity of our city.

Unison Champions Day

People working in our local public services such as libraries, schools and care homes go above and beyond the call of duty, supporting people in Cardiff Central through every stage of our lives.

Ahead of Unison’s Champions Day, I sent my thanks to all the unsung heroes and heroines who keep our public services going and our communities together.

Watch my video here.

Barclays Branch Closure

I was very disappointed by the decision of Barclays UK to close their Wellfield Road branch. We have seen a series of bank closures over the past few years. Barclays say their priority now is to help those customers adapt to the different arrangements that will be available to them in the future.

A new ‘Touchpoint community site’ is now operating in Penylan Library from Monday 23rd October on Weekdays, 9.30am - 12.30pm and 13.30 - 4.30pm.

Leading the Way on Animal Welfare

Wales has become the first nation in the UK to ban the use of snares and glue traps.

This will help bring an end to the indiscriminate suffering of animals in Wales, and reaffirms Welsh Labour's commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Labour will get UK Steel's Future Back

Labour’s missions for government, including sustained economic growth and clean electricity by 2030 will be achieved through a big contribution from Welsh steelmaking. Our plans to double onshore wind, treble solar and quadruple offshore wind in the UK will need a lot of steel.

This month Keir Starmer, Mark Drakeford and I visited Tata Steel in Port Talbot to discuss our green steel plan with unions, workers and Tata's senior management.

You can read more about the visit here

Setting the Record Straight on 20MPH

There has been lots of misinformation about the 20mph roll out spread by Conservative politicians in Wales. During Road Safety Week, I decided to set the record straight.

There is no blanket 20mph speed limit. We can still drive at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and even 70mph on different roads across Wales.

It’s also worth remembering that 6 Tory Senedd Members voted in favour of these proposals, whilst the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and the Secretary of State for Wales both campaigned for 20mph zones in their local communities.

They support it when it suits them and try to make political capital when it doesn't. The priority and purpose of the 20mph policy is road safety, reducing the number of deaths and life-changing injuries sustained on our roads.

Watch my video here.

In Parliament

Soaring Shoplifting

Prison Overcrowding

This month, the Conservative Justice Secretary had to ask Judges to issue judicial guidance restricting the number of people that should be given prison sentences because of overcrowding. Our criminal justice system is at breaking point after 13 years of cuts to police, courts and prison officer numbers. The prison estate is a mess. Prisons are overcrowded and have become breeding grounds for more crime rather than rehabilitation.

I challenged the Welsh Secretary on his government’s record on criminal justice in Wales.

Watch my question here.

Taste of Wales

It was great to speak at the Taste of Wales event in Parliament and welcome Welsh producers who make excellent food and drink products.

Welsh food and drink exports continue to go from strength to strength, worth almost £800 million in 2022. I will continue to support Welsh businesses as they seek broaden their trade in new and existing markets around the world.

My Speech to UK Labour Conference

We had a very successful Labour conference in Liverpool with over 18,000 people attending. It came on the back of our byelection victory in Rutherglen and Hamilton West and our newest MP, Michael Shanks was introduced to a huge and very happy crowd.

In my speech I set out how, after 13 years of Tory misrule in Westminster, our alternative vision where a Welsh Labour government and a UK Labour government could create a Wales where everyone can thrive.

Getting our economy growing again – built on good jobs so that incomes grow faster than outgoings.

Breaking down the barriers to opportunity with everyone under 25 in Wales, guaranteed work, education, training, or self-employment.

Unlocking Wales’s green energy potential to get cheaper bills, new high paid jobs, and security from tyrants like Putin.

Modernising our NHS by investing in the NHS workforce of the future with a new medical school in North Wales.

And making our streets safe with more police officers and PCSOs in our communities.

Watch a clip from my speech here or read it in full here.

Let's Get Britain's Future Back

The Tories have left people across the United Kingdom feeling hopeless for the future. A revolving door of Prime Ministers, endless division and the lack of a long-term plan has left Britain in limbo as our international competitors overtake us.

At the UK Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Keir Starmer set out our plans for a mission led government which will turn the page on Tory decline and kickstart a decade of national renewal.

This will require a new politics and new way of governing the country – tackling the disease of ‘sticking plaster’ politics and restoring serious, credible, united, long term public service. A partnership government, with high standards of integrity.

It’s time for change. The next UK Labour Government will get Britain’s future back.

Listen to my analysis of Keir’s speech here.