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. 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

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 and reading my article in Nation.Cymru here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.