As 2025 draws to a close, I want to thank you for keeping in touch
through reading my monthly newsletter and for taking an interest in
the work I do on your behalf as your Member of Parliament for Cardiff
East and as Secretary of State for Wales.

It’s been an extremely busy year, and I want to thank every
constituent who has taken the time to chat with me and with my team
when we’ve knocked your door. As always, we are here to help, and
you can contact me anytime.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy,
healthy and successful New Year.

 

2025 IN REVIEW

Tackling the cost of living, investing in our public services,
creating jobs, delivering clean power and making our
streets safer is what the UK Labour Government was elected to
do. Here’s what we’ve done in 2025.

 

Inflation is down (now at its lowest rate since March), wages are up
and interest rates have been cut 6 times since Labour came to power.
That means the average worker will earn over £500 more each year.
While the average saving on a new mortgage is around £1,000 a year.

 

Wages grew faster in the first 10 months of this Labour Government
than they did in 10 years of the Tory Government. 

 

Between the General Election and April 2026, Labour will have
delivered a pay rise of £2300 a year for people working full-time on
the national minimum wage and £4000 a year for those aged between 18
and 20.

 

Above inflation pay rises have been funded for nurses, doctors,
teachers, police and other public sector workers. And our armed
forces have had their biggest pay rise for over 20 years. 

 

A new law on employment rights that we fought so hard to get past
Tory, Lib Dem, Reform and the Greens who kept voting against them,
means stronger protections against being unfairly sacked, stronger
statutory sick pay, the right to parental leave and bereavement leave
from the first day of employment and an end to unscrupulous fire and
rehire and exploitative zero hours contracts.

 

The new law will boost productivity, increase people’s living
standards and make work more secure. The changes are pro-worker and
pro-business.

 

We’ve brought in the Renters’ Rights Act to make renting more
secure by ending no fault evictions.

  

Pensioners have seen another rise in state pensions and restoration
of the winter fuel allowance for every pensioner household whose
income is £35,000 or less.

 

We’ve taken £150 off energy bills and expanded the warm homes
discount for low-income households so that 6 million
households will get more help with their bills. 

 

There are 330,000 more people in work, we’ve done four new trade
deals including with the EU, USA and India and attracted £320bn of
investment into the UK. More jobs, more opportunities, making the
UK a great place to invest.  

 

We’ve launched our child poverty strategy so that every child gets
the best start in life. Scrapping the two-child limit will benefit
over 3000 children in Cardiff East and 550,000 across the
UK. And we’re helping people back into work
through targeted employment schemes in Wales backed by millions of
pounds. 

 

Two record breaking financial settlements for Wales, the largest ever
in devolution history, have meant the Welsh Government has been able
to invest more in our NHS, bringing down long waiting lists by 86%, in
schools, local council services, transport, business support and
high streets. The spending power of the Welsh Government has been
boosted by nearly £6 billion and we’ve updated the Welsh
Government funding framework, so it is more favourable for
Wales and got the best deal of any nation in the UK for local growth
funds to invest in communities right across Wales. 

 

Half a billion pounds for rail infrastructure (including in
Cardiff), over £100million to help steel communities, Great British
Energy, railway companies being brought back into public ownership
and one of the biggest ever public investments in Wales in our
history, with the UK’s first fleet of new small modular nuclear
reactors being built on Anglesey.  

 

Violent crime is down. We have more neighbourhood police on our
streets and we’re tackling the scourge of violence against women
and girls. We’ve invested in the criminal justice system
after the Tories left our prisons and courts in crisis, putting
victims of crime at the heart of the system. 

 

And finally, the Prime Minister has restored the UK’s international
standing, rebuilding trust and relationships with our closest allies
and more widely across the world. The deal we struck with the EU in
May will be worth up to £9bn to the UK economy, boosting growth,
protecting jobs, bringing down bills and securing our borders. We
have rejoined Erasmus+ which is a huge win for young people
so students and apprentices will be able to study, train and
undertake work placements abroad and enabling school and youth
visits and exchanges.  

 

Lots done. More to do. Watch this space! 

 

MEET YOU WELSH LABOUR CAERDYDD FFYNNON TAF SENEDD CANDIDATES

Welsh Labour has announced an excellent team of Senedd candidates for
our constituency ready for the Senedd election on 7th May 2026.

The election will be held under a new voting system, where electors
have one one vote for one party. 96 Senedd Members will be elected
across 16 new super constituencies (six in each constituency). Our
constituency will consist of both Cardiff East and Cardiff North and
is called Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf.  

Our new generation of Welsh Labour candidates bring different
experience, energy, and an absolute commitment to stand up for the
priorities of people right across Cardiff East (and Cardiff North).

Our team of candidates understands our communities because they are
part of them. Working together, we’ll focus on what matters most,
better public services, good jobs, and opportunities for everyone.

 

NEWS FROM CARDIFF EAST

 

CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Small businesses are the backbone of our area, driving the local
economy and employing significant numbers of residents. When we
support local businesses, we’re supporting our neighbours and
helping create and sustain jobs locally.

On Small Business Saturday, I highlighted how Labour is backing small
businesses here in Cardiff East, including:

* Transforming City Road into a thriving hub for local businesses
with safer crossings, better public transport links, and new seating
areas surrounded by trees.
* Investing in Countisbury Avenue to make it a more welcoming
shopping parade, with resurfaced roads, upgraded crossings, improved
car parks, and new bins, bollards, and cycle stands.
* Tackling crime and antisocial behaviour on Clifton Street by
getting South Wales Police to implement the Clear, Hold, Build
strategy to drive down crime and make it a more welcoming and safe
place for residents, visitors, business owners and their staff.
* Regenerating Clearwater Way, upgrading retail units and improving
public spaces for residents and visitors.

I also asked residents to share their favourite local businesses,
which I’ve included in my Small Business Dashboard
[[link removed]].
Take a look and please do shop local this Christmas. 

 

LLANRUMNEY HOSTS LAUNCH OF WALES'S COMMUNITY FOOTBALL STRATEGY

The Football Association of Wales through its Cymru Football
Foundation launched its new ‘Closer to the Game’ strategy right
here in Cardiff East at Llanrumney United Football Club.

 

The strategy has a really bold ambition to make sure that every
community in Wales has access to a quality football pitch within 15
minutes travel. This will mean better facilities for grassroots clubs,
more opportunities for children and young people to play, and stronger
support for the volunteers who keep football clubs going locally. By
investing in local clubs, the Foundation wants football to continue to
be a driving force for community health and wellbeing.

 

It was fantastic to be involved in the launch at Llanrumney United
alongside Wales manager Craig Bellamy. Huge thanks to club secretary
Sarah Mace who gave a wonderful speech and thanks to every volunteer
across Cardiff East who keep our clubs going.

Watch my speech from the launch here
[[link removed]].

 

149 YEARS OF CARDIFF RUGBY

Cardiff Rugby is celebrating its 149th birthday after a year of real
uncertainty. The anniversary is focusing on the remarkable heritage of
our club.

The first kit in 1876 was a plain black jersey with a skull and
crossbones, a nod to Cardiff’s pirating past. It lasted only one
season after parents objected to the lawless image it portrayed. Soon
after came the blue and black we know and love today.

As a fan and member of Cardiff Rugby’s Supporters’ Trust, I care
deeply about our club, its history and even more about the future of
the game. The news that Cardiff will remain home to an elite rugby
team had to happen and I stressed this in my submission to the WRU
consultation.

 

I will keep working with the club, the Supporters’ Trust, players,
fans and stakeholders to ensure Cardiff Rugby thrives for generations
to come.

 

CARDIFF CENTRAL STATION IMPROVEMENTS

£140 million is being invested in Cardiff Central Station by the UK
Labour Government, the Welsh Labour Government and Cardiff Capital
Region to make significant improvements for passengers. The investment
has now been approved, marking a major step forward for our city in
its 70th year as the capital city and the 200th anniversary of our
railways.

My cabinet colleague Heidi Alexander, the UK Government Transport
Secretary, Welsh Government Transport Minister Ken Skates and Cardiff
Council Leader Huw Thomas joined me at Cardiff Central to make the
announcement, see the station designs and meet rail staff and
passengers.

Cardiff Central is Wales’ busiest station, used by over 35,000
people every day, and passenger numbers are set to grow. We will get a
larger concourse, an extended Platform 0, and a redesigned southern
entrance, along with improved ticket gates, waiting areas, retail
spaces, and cycle storage, making the station a much easier place to
navigate and make it ready for extra demand in the future.

This project is part of a wider £445 million investment in rail
infrastructure across Wales by the UK Labour Government. Construction
starts in Spring 2026, with completion expected by 2029. The station
will be open throughout the work, with much of it expected to be done
ahead of Euro 2028 when we’ll welcome people from across the globe
to Cardiff.

Find out more about the project in my recent video
[[link removed]].

 

WINTER READING CHALLENGE

The Winter Reading Challenge is back. This is a brilliant opportunity
to read with children and ensure that they keep up with all they have
learnt in school over the previous term.

Taking part in the challenge is easy, simply sign up, log the books
you and your child have read together and unlock digital rewards when
you complete the challenge.

Click here for more
[[link removed]].

 

CHRISTMAS WASTE COLLECTIONS

Over the Christmas period, your recycling & waste collection could be
later than usual. See below for the changes in collection dates.

USUAL DATE

LATE COLLECTION DATE

Tuesday 23rd December

No Change

Wednesday 24th December

No Change

Thursday 25th December

Saturday 27th December

Friday 26th December

Sunday 28th December

Saturday 27th December

No Change

Sunday 28th December

No Change

Wrapping paper will not be collected from recycling bags or sacks and
will need to be put into black general waste bins or bags for
collection.

 

WINTER RAIL DISRUPTION

Great Western Railway’s winter timetable is now in effect, and
passengers are being asked to plan ahead and book early for the busy
Christmas period.

Engineering work will affect journeys to London Paddington between
Saturday 27 December and Sunday 4 January. Services will run to an
amended timetable because only two of the four tracks will be
available. There will be no direct trains between Cardiff and
Cheltenham Spa, so passengers should change at Swindon or Bristol
Parkway.

Advance fares and updated journey planners are available here. Please
check your travel plans and reserve seats early to avoid disruption.

 

CHRISTMAS OFFICE CLOSURE

My office is now closed for Christmas and will reopen on Monday 5th
January.

During this time, we’ll be checking emails. If your request for
assistance is urgent, please mark it as urgent.

My Christmas Contact List below also has contact details for other
sources of advice and help over the Christmas period.

 

NEWS FROM ACROSS WALES

 

RECORD INVESTMENT FOR WALES

Wales is attracting record investment. Since the launch of the Wales
Investment Summit, more than £16 billion of new projects have been
announced, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for every
corner of the country.

From Vodafone’s £600m to expand 5G coverage, to Vantage Data
Centres’ £10 billion investment transforming the former Ford
Bridgend site, and major projects in energy, ports and TV production,
the Wales Investment has been a game-changer.

Labour is delivering for Wales. This investment is a clear vote of
confidence in the Welsh economy and our people. We will keep working
to ensure every part of Wales benefits from this success.

 

THE UK LABOUR GOVERNMENT'S FIGHT AGAINST CHILD POVERTY

The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are crucial. For children
growing up in poverty, the impact can last a lifetime. It makes it
harder to learn at school, impacts on health, reduces prospects of
good employment or even any employment, opportunity and life chances.

The last Labour Government lifted 600,000 children out of poverty, but
a succession of Tory Governments then increased child poverty by
700,000. 

That’s why this UK Labour Government is scrapping the Tories’
two-child limit. We have also published a new Child Poverty Strategy
that will tackle its root causes. We’ll cut the cost of essentials,
boost family incomes, and improve local services so every child gets
the best start in life.

The Prime Minister and I launched the UK wide strategy in Cardiff with
Eluned Morgan.
You can read about the strategy here
[[link removed]].

 

A LABOUR BUDGET FOR WALES

The Welsh Labour Government has confirmed a Budget Agreement that
secures the passage of the 2026-27 Budget through the Senedd in the
new year. This is a budget built on Welsh Labour values: protecting
frontline services, supporting jobs, and investing in our communities.
The extra money is a result of the UK Labour Government providing
Wales with the biggest budget settlement in devolution history.

* An overall 4.5% increase for local government. Cardiff Council
will receive an increase of 4.2% in their budget in the settlement
helping to safeguard schools, social care, and vital local services.
* An increased budget of 3.6% for the Welsh NHS to support frontline
services and help tackle waiting times.
* £120m in capital funding reserved for after the Senedd election,
ensuring future investment opportunities in Wales.

 

[Labour Rose]
 

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