[Labour Rose]

IN CARDIFF CENTRAL

 

CARDIFF COUNCIL BUDGET CONSULTATION

Fourteen years of Tory governments and their economic chaos have
decimated council budgets. Councils continue to face reduced funding
settlements whilst demand for services is increasing and rising
inflation means that the cost of providing those services continues to
increase too. In Cardiff alone, the cost of delivering the same
services in the next financial year has increased by around £56m.
 
Faced with these enormous pressures, Cardiff Council is asking for
your views on a range of far-reaching budget proposals which seek to
balance the books and prioritise core services for residents. 
 
Have your say on the proposals here
[[link removed]].
The deadline to take part is Sunday 4 February 2024.

 

A NEW HOME FOR PORTER'S

Independent Live Music Venues are the lifeblood of Cardiff's
night-time economy. As a regular at Porter's and having met with the
owners about their plans, its great news that they have moved into
their new venue on Barrack Lane, following work by Cardiff Labour
Council to facilitate a 20-year lease on the site.

 

The new venue will allow Porter's to put on more events, welcome
larger crowds, and will provide the space to build on what has already
become a focal point for gig-goers from Cardiff and beyond. Good luck
to the team and congratulations.

 

STREET SURGERIES ACROSS CARDIFF CENTRAL

Throughout January, as usual, I've been out and about in Cardiff
Central, listening to local residents and helping deal and resolve a
wide range of issues and concerns. 
 
Thank you to everyone who took the time to chat on their doorsteps. I
look forward to speaking to many more residents in the year ahead. 
 
If you have an issue you’d like to raise that you think I can help
with, please call 02921 329736 or email [email protected]
for an appointment.

 

SUPPORT WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING

The Tory cost-of-living crisis continues to put huge pressure on
household budgets across Cardiff Central with many people having
difficulties coping with the cost of food, bills and managing debts. 

 

I want to make it as easy as possible for residents to access any help
you may be entitled to, so I've put together a cost-of-living advice
hub. This includes links to support for gas, electricity and water
bills and any benefits or discounts you may be entitled to. There are
also links to support agencies who will be able to provide tailored
advice and assistance if needed.

 

Cost-of-Living Advice Hub
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ACROSS WALES

 

WHAT WILL A UK LABOUR GOVERNMENT MEAN FOR WALES?

This year brings an opportunity for voters in Wales to make their
voices heard at the general election. That can’t come soon enough.
The choice at the next election couldn’t be clearer. More chaos and
division with the Tories, or a stronger, fairer, greener Wales with a
UK Labour government working in lockstep with our Welsh Labour
Government.
 
That’s the message I have been taking to constituents in Cardiff
Central and across Wales.
 
Find out more about UK Labour’s plans for Wales by watching my
interview on BBC Wales here
[[link removed]]
and reading my article in Nation.Cymru here
[[link removed]]. 

 

TATA STEEL JOB LOSSES

The announcement of more than 3,000 job losses at the Tata Steel plant
located in Port Talbot is a major setback for the workers, their
families, and the local community. Steel production plays a critical
role in the Welsh economy, as well as our national security and must
be protected.
 
What the Government offered was never a serious plan for the long term
for our steel industry. It is yet another sticking plaster from a
government living crisis to crisis unable to take a long-term view.
 
Labour's cast iron commitment to the steel industry will ensure it has
a bright future ahead. We have earmarked up to £3 billion for
investment in green steel alongside industry, working with steel
communities to ensure the transition to green steel comes with jobs.
 
While the Conservatives scramble around for last minute deals, Labour
will make long term investments through our industrial strategy to
protect British jobs, safeguard our national capabilities and create
jobs rather than throw British steelworkers on the scrapheap.

 

Listen to my response to the job losses here
[[link removed]].

 

NEWPORT WAFER FAB

The future of Newport Wafer Fab has been under threat for more than
two years, with hundreds of skilled workers at risk of losing their
jobs. In November 2023, Vishay Intertechnology, an American company
agreed to buy the factory, but after more than three months, the UK
Tory Government is still dragging its feet in providing clearance for
the purchase to go ahead.
 
The longer the UK Government takes to make its decision, the more
likely it is that the £1.3 billion investment will be lost and
hundreds of jobs with it. On behalf of the workers, I have been
pressing UK Government Ministers to focus on their jobs and get this
decision made.

 

Read more here
[[link removed]].

 

WELSH BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE

After 14 years of Tory UK Governments, it is getting harder and harder
to run a successful business. This month I met with small businesses
from across Wales to hear about the challenges they are facing as a
result of that disastrous Tory mini-budget, tax rises, rocketing
interest rates and inflation, as well as supply chain issues. 
 
The next UK Labour Government will prioritise growing the economy,
giving businesses certainty to be able to invest in their companies
and recruit so they don’t just survive, but thrive. More jobs, more
money being spent in our local economies and more revenue to then
invest in our public services.

 

Read Labour's plan for small businesses here
[[link removed]].

 

S4C

S4C’s recent governance and workplace culture problems have been
well documented in the press following a request by the broadcasting
union BECTU, for an independent investigation into widespread
concerns.

 

But it’s been astonishing that the UK Government Culture Secretary,
who has responsibility for all public service broadcasters has been
completely silent on the crisis until I wrote to her asking why she
wasn’t interested in our Welsh language broadcaster.

 

Wales needs S4C to be firing on all cylinders, nurturing its staff and
their skills, showing excellent programmes and demonstrating value for
taxpayers’ money. Many of the independent production companies that
S4C commissions to produce their programmes are based in Cardiff and
they sustain many jobs. It’s vital that the UK Government takes its
responsibilities seriously to ensure the sustainability and success of
S4C. 

 

Listen to my interview here [[link removed]].

 

IN PARLIAMENT

 

WELSH QUESTIONS

Conservative Ministers have refused to rule out relying on imported
Indian steel after the planned closure of blast furnaces at Port
Talbot, in a move that threatens innovative businesses and thousands
more jobs that rely on British steel.

 

At Welsh Questions, I asked Wales Minister, Fay Jones where the steel
would come from to make the wind turbines needed to generate renewable
energy and drive down energy bills.

 

Watch my contributions here
[[link removed]].

 

TACKLING KNIFE CRIME

The number of knives and other deadly weapons on our streets is
terrifying, and completely unacceptable. Knife crime has risen over
70% since 2015. The tragic cost of that crime is being felt by too
many families, with more and more young people being killed and
communities blighted by fear. 
 
Urgent action must be taken to restore the rule of law and keep our
young people safe from knife crime. Anything less is an insult to the
families affected. 
 
Labour’s Action Plan to Cut Knife Crime will give young people the
support they need to stay out of trouble and introduce stronger laws
for those caught with knives. The plan will:
 
•    Introduce tough consequences for carrying a knife. 
•    Provide early intervention to stop young people being drawn
into crime
•    Crackdown on the availability of knives, machetes and swords
on Britain’s streets
•    End the exploitation of children and young people by gangs
•    Establish a cross-Government Coalition to end knife crime. 

 

Read our plans in more detail here
[[link removed]]. 

 

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM BILL

The Offshore Petroleum Bill is unnecessary and undermines action on
climate change. It won't reduce energy bills or enhance Britain's
energy security. Even the Tories have admitted as much. As a result, I
voted against this useless gimmick at its Second Reading.

Labour has pledged not to offer new licenses to explore oil and gas
fields. Instead, we will bring forward an Energy Independence Act,
which will boost Britain’s energy independence, invest in British
industry, and cut bills for families.

 

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF PUBLIC BODIES (OVERSEAS MATTERS) BILL

The UK Conservative Government has previously asked Councils to divest
from Russia following Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine,
recognising their economic importance and the moral considerations
that should inform what they do. 

Now the Government is saying that they do not trust Councils to make
their own decisions on investments. The Government can’t have it
both ways. 

Despite Labour’s best efforts to put forward a consensus position
which avoids the most damaging elements of it, the Government has
forced through this deeply flawed legislation regardless. 

 

HORIZON SCANDAL

The Horizon scandal is of the most egregious miscarriages of justice
in British history. Innocent people were robbed of their lives,
livelihoods, and reputation due to Post Office prosecutions, which
were driven by misguided belief that technology was infallible and
workers dishonest.
 
We must learn the lessons of this scandal. Justice must be served. It
is right that innocent people have their convictions overturned not
just so that they can begin to turn the page on this scandal, but to
ensure that it leads to quick access to the compensation they rightly
deserve.

 

TACKLING ABUSE AND INTIMIDATION IN POLITICS

Politics should always be about the debate of ideas. Robust political
debate is something we should be proud of, but far too much political
discourse drifts beyond the acceptable rough and tumble of politics,
into abuse, threats and intimidation. 
 
I warmly welcome the Jo Cox Civility Commission Action Plan and the
continued work that the Jo Cox Foundation does to tackle abuse and
intimidation in politics, reminding us that there is more in common
than that which divides us.

 

Read more about the report here
[[link removed]].

 

PANCREATIC CANCER UK DROP IN

Pancreatic Cancer is the 10th most common cancer accounting for around
10,500 cancer cases in the UK every year. Yet 7 in 10 people with
pancreatic cancer never receive treatment. This must change.

 

I met with survivors and those who have lost loved ones to discuss how
we can ensure that people are diagnosed early and receive the
treatment they need.

 

BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE NO ONE NEEDS A FOOD BANK

More and more people are being left with no option but to turn to a
food bank to feed themselves and their families.

 

This week, I joined representatives from the Trussell Trust Network to
hear about their major ‘Hunger in the UK’ research project and how
we can move towards a future where no one needs a food bank. 

 

OPENREACH ROLL-OUT

In 2019, under 7% of properties in Wales could access full fibre
broadband. It was great to join Openreach this month to celebrate the
roll out of ultra-reliable, fibre broadband to more than half of all
homes and businesses across both rural and urban parts of the country.

 

[Labour Rose]
 

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