Thank you for reading my October newsletter. It’s been an
exceptionally busy month in Parliament and here in Cardiff East as we
get on with delivering the change that people voted for in July.
 
I’ve been out knocking doors, chatting to residents across the
constituency, sharing details of our progress and showing how the
changes we’re making will improve lives and living standards.

 

IN CARDIFF EAST

 

PENSIONER ADVICE DAY

More than £12.3 million worth of Pension Credit goes unclaimed in
Cardiff with many residents unaware that they are entitled to receive
it. This month, I held a Pensioners' Advice Day at the British Legion
in Llanrumney to help residents over the age of 65 access the support
available to them. 
 
A big thank you to all the organisations who came and provided  their
expert advice and support to nearly 70 constituents who came along.

 

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF CUTEST

Cutest has led the field in the scientific testing of cosmetics,
toiletries and dermatology products for 40 years, with global clients
like L’Oréal, Idris Elba and Boots, to name just a few.

 

It was a real privilege to join staff, volunteers, clients, and the
Chief Executive, Stewart Long at their premises in Pentwyn to
celebrate their 40th anniversary. The company was founded by a
Professor of Dermatology at Cardiff University in 1984. Cutest puts
more than £250,000 into the pockets of local people in Pentwyn every
year.
 
Learn how you can get involved here
[[link removed]]. 

 

CONGRATULATIONS WELSH NATIONAL OPERA & NO FIT STATE

Huge congratulations to the Welsh National Opera and Adamsdown's No
Fit State Circus who were awarded the UK Theatre Award for Achievement
in Opera in recognition of their fantastic 'Death in Venice'
production. Great to see Welsh and especially Cardiff East talent
securing UK wide accolades.

 

NEW HOMES FOR RUMNEY COMPLETE

It’s fantastic news that Cardiff Labour Council's award-winning
housing development in Rumney has now been completed with new
residents about to move into their new homes.. 
 
Every home on the Aspen Grove site includes ground source heat pumps,
battery storage, electric vehicle charging points and Intelligent
Energy System controls, meaning cheaper bills.
 
I hope everyone in Aspen Grove will be very happy in their new
homes. 

 

10 YEARS OF SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD’S "WEAR RED DAY"

I'm proud to have supported the anti-racism education charity 'Show
Racism the Red Card' (SRTRC) for more than 30 years, first as a trade
union lawyer and now as your MP for Cardiff East.
 
This year, I joined my constituency team to celebrate the 10th
anniversary of SRTRC's 'Wear Red Day'. They do brilliant work with
children in many different education settings to understand and learn
how to reject racism when they see or hear it. Over a million children
have benefited from their work.

 

Learn how you can get involved with Show Racism the Red Card here
[[link removed]]. 

 

CARDIFF COUNCIL'S PARKING PLAN CONSULTATION

Cardiff Council has launched a six-week consultation on its new
parking plan for our city. These are new proposals that would adopt an
area-based approach to managing parking across the city giving
 residents a better chance to park on their own street, or adjoining
streets close to their home. 
 
Have your say on the plans here
[[link removed]].

 

RESERVOIR VISITOR CENTRE WINS AWARD

If you haven’t already been to the new visitor centre at Llanishen
and Lisvane Reservoir, it's definitely worth a visit. The centre
offers fantastic food and community rooms with stunning views.

 

Alongside its popularity with visitors, it has now been named one of
the best sustainable development projects in the UK by the Royal
Institute of Chartered Surveyors

 

Read more here
[[link removed]].

 

ST JOHN LLOYD R.C PRIMARY SCHOOL 

Thanks to pupils from St John Lloyd R.C. Primary School in Trowbridge
who grilled me online following Prime Minister’s Questions with
loads of questions about issues that matter to them and about what I
do as their MP.
 
They asked some very difficult and probing questions on issues like
education, mental health and climate change and told me what new laws
they would like to see the government introduce.

 

The children had also been on a visit to Parliament earlier this year
and really enjoyed it. If you know a school in Cardiff East that would
like to visit Parliament, please contact my office and we will help to
arrange it.

 

ACROSS WALES

 

A BUDGET THAT DELIVERS FOR WALES

The Budget has delivered for Wales for the first time in a generation.
Working with the Chancellor, I am proud to have secured the biggest
ever budget settlement for Welsh Government since devolution began. It
provides a record boost to spending for the Welsh Government to
support public services like our NHS, whilst thousands of working
people across Wales, will benefit from increases to their wages. 
 
This budget will deliver:
 
• RECORD ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF MORE THAN £1.7 BILLION to support
public services in Wales, with a focus on strengthening our NHS and
bringing down waiting times.
• £100M TO SUPPORT STEEL COMMUNITIES through the Transition Board,
which I chair and Port Talbot town centre regeneration funding.
• £88M FOR CITY AND GROWTH DEALS INCLUDING CARDIFF CAPITAL CITY
REGION
• £25M TO CONTINUE THE MAINTENANCE THAT KEEPS COAL TIPS SAFE in
former mining areas.
• £320M TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH with Investment Zones in Cardiff
and Newport, and in Wrexham and Flintshire, freeports in Milford Haven
and Port Talbot that will boost local economies and create
high-quality jobs for the future.
• £440M LEVELLING UP FUNDING protected for local communities right
across Wales.
• RECORD INCREASES IN THE MINIMUM WAGE with a 6.7% increase (£1400
extra per year for a full time worker) and a 16.3% increase for 18 –
20 year olds (£2500 extra per year for a full time worker).
• FUEL DUTY FROZEN benefitting around 2.1m people in Wales.
• STATE PENSION INCREASE OF 4.1% benefitting around 600,000
pensioners across Wales.
• HOUSEHOLDS ELIGIBLE FOR PENSION CREDIT WILL SEE A 4.1% INCREASE,
meaning £465 more for single pensioners and up to £7210 for couples,
benefitting 80,000 pensioners across Wales. 
• CARER’S ALLOWANCE WEEKLY EARNINGS LIMIT INCREASED by £45 per
week, the biggest ever increase since it was introduced.
• NO INCREASE TO INCOME TAX RATES, EMPLOYEE NATIONAL INSURANCE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND VAT.

This Budget demonstrates the difference that two Labour governments
working in partnership can achieve for Wales. Find out what this
budget means for you here
[[link removed]].

 

GETTING THE ECONOMY GROWING AND RAISING LIVING STANDARDS

The UK Labour Government has secured more than £63bn of investment
following our successful International Investment Summit, hosted by
the Prime Minister. Joined by First Minister Eluned Morgan, I was
pleased to bring together 300 industry leaders to unleash
opportunities for Welsh innovation, creativity, and industry.

 

North East Wales, in particular has seen a huge boost to investment we
took office in July. A major £1bn project, supported by both UK and
Welsh Labour Governments in partnership with Eren Holdings, will see
the largest recycled paper plant in the UK built in Deeside on the
site of the old Shotton Steelworks. This project will secure 147 jobs
and create 220 more, marking a significant boost for the local
economy.

 

This follows an announcement that Kellogg's owner, Kellanova, is
investing £75 million to expand its Wrexham factory, introducing two
advanced production lines and generating 130 new jobs.

 

These investments have been made possible by two Labour Governments
working hand-in-hand to drive growth and innovation in Wales.

[Video] [[link removed]]

 

CLEAN POWER BY 2030

Wales is at the forefront of the UK Labour Government's mission to
achieve clean energy by 2030. Last month, we announced 7 new clean
energy projects in Wales, set to generate over 157 megawatts of
affordable, homegrown, clean energy for households and businesses
across the country.

A key element of these plans will be the new Clean Energy Hub at the
Port of Barry, that I visited this month which will attract new
businesses, investors and new jobs for the town.

 

In the Budget, we also unveiled funding for a groundbreaking green
hydrogen project in Bridgend, which is set to be one of the first
commercial-scale projects of its kind anywhere in the world. 

 

These plans follow the announcement of £22 billion for cutting-edge
carbon capture technology which will help us achieve our net-zero
goals, create jobs and boost growth across North Wales.

 

Together, we are building a greener, more prosperous Wales.

 

IN PARLIAMENT

 

CELEBRATING LABOUR'S FIRST 100 DAYS

This month, Labour marked 100 days in Government. We are already
getting on with the work of change, from strengthening our public
services to bringing forward the biggest changes to employment laws
for a generation.

 

This is just the beginning. Change means nothing short of national
renewal. Together, we will build a Britain that delivers for working
people. 

 

Read more about our first 100 days here
[[link removed]].

 

INTRODUCING THE NEW DEAL FOR WORKING PEOPLE

This month, the UK Labour Government delivered on its manifesto
commitment to bring forward an Employment Rights Bill within the first
100 days of taking office.

 

The Bill will update the UK’s outdated employment laws and turn the
page on an economy blighted by insecurity, poor productivity and low
pay. This will include ending exploitative zero hours contracts and
fire and rehire practices, establishing day one rights for paternity,
parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers, and
strengthening statutory sick pay.

 

PROTECTING OUR RIVERS AND OCEANS

Both the UK and Welsh Labour Governments are working together improve
water quality and the resilience of our water sector for future
generations. We have announced a new Independent Water Commission
which will:
 

* Strengthen regulation
* Boost investment into water infrastructure
* Reform the water sector

 

Once the Commission’s work has been completed, it will report with a
set of recommendations to both Governments next year.

 

REMOVING HEREDITARY PEERS FROM THE HOUSE OF LORDS

The continued presence of hereditary peers in our legislature is
indefensible. In the 21st Century there should not be places for
people to make laws, reserved just for those who were born into
certain families.

 

This UK Labour Government is making an immediate start with
legislation to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in
the House of Lords. This is an important first step in the reform of
our political systems.

 

TACKLING CAR INSURANCE COSTS

Car insurance is essential for drivers, not a luxury. But the rising
cost of cover is unacceptable. 

 

The UK Government is determined to secure a better deal for drivers.
We have set up a new expert taskforce to identify and root out the
causes of rising insurance costs, to bring down the cost of living and
ensure drivers are safe on the roads.

 

RENTERS' RIGHTS BILL

Millions of people live in fear that they could be uprooted from their
homes with little notice and minimal justification. Reform of the
private rental sector is long overdue. I'm proud to be a named backer
of Labour's Renters Rights Bill which will provide greater security
and stability to more than 11 million private renters across the UK.
This will represent the most significant reforms to the private rental
sector in over 40 years.

 

FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE BILL

Football clubs are more than businesses, they provide a sense of
community and pride in our local areas. But for too long, financial
instability has meant loyal fans and whole communities have risked
losing their clubs as a result of mismanagement and reckless spending.

 

Labour's Football Governance Bill will put fans back at the heart of
the game, taking on rogue owners and crucially helping to put clubs up
and down the country on a sound financial footing.

 

The Bill will include a minimum standard of fan engagement in
decision-making and introduce new statutory protections for a club's
heritage like their home shirt colours and club badges. This comes
after Cardiff City fans had to fight to restore our iconic blue shirt
and bluebird crest. 

 

See the Cardiff City Supporters' Trust's endorsement of Labour's Bill
here
[[link removed]].

 

SIXTY YEARS OF THE WALES OFFICE

This month marks 60 years since the creation of the Wales Office. I
was pleased to host a celebration of this milestone and bring together
a number of my predecessors and guests from across Wales.

 

It is critical that Wales has a strong voice at the Cabinet table and
as Secretary of State for Wales I am committed to working steadfastly
to advocate on behalf of our nation.

 

Working in a relationship of trust, respect and collaboration with
Welsh Government, we will deliver on the priorities of the people of
Wales.

 

Watch my speech to mark the occasion here
[[link removed]].

From Left: Former Secretaries of State for Wales, David T.C. Davies,
Peter Hain, Alun Michael and Paul Murphy

 

[Labour Rose]
 

Privacy Policy [[link removed]]

T&Cs [[link removed]]

Communication Preferences
[[link removed]]

Unsubscribe
[[link removed]]

Sent by email from the Labour Party, promoted by Hollie Ridley on
behalf of The Labour Party, both at Labour Central, Kings Manor,
Newcastle, NE1 6PA.

© 2024 Copyright Labour All rights reserved.


[[link removed]]


[[link removed]]


[[link removed]]


[[link removed]]



Promoted by Hollie Ridley on behalf of the Labour Party, Labour Central Kings Manor, Newcastle, NE1 6PA, United Kingdom
[link removed]