NEWS FROM CARDIFF EAST

GCSE & A-LEVEL RESULTS

The anxiety of waiting for results is finally over for young people
across Cardiff East.

 

They have done themselves proud, with an incredible 35.4% achieving
A*-A at A Level and 27.9% at GCSE. An impressive 82.5% also secured
A*-C at A Level alongside 69.1% at GCSE. These results comfortably
outperform the Wales-wide average.

 

These achievements are a testament to their commitment and hard work,
but I also want to say thank you to our dedicated local teachers,
support staff, parents and carers, without whom getting those results
would be impossible.

 

If you know someone who is still figuring out their next plan, What's
Next Cardiff [[link removed]] is available to
help secure new opportunities in education, employment, or training.

 

Huge congratulations to everyone who received their results this
month. I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do next.

CALLING LAST ORDERS ON HIGH BUSINESS RATES

Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of our communities
in Cardiff East, but they’ve been under considerable pressure since
before the pandemic.

 

The last Welsh Labour Government announced that it would give pubs,
restaurants, cafés, bars and live music venues 15% off its new
business rates bill. This month, the UK Labour Government took extra
steps to protect pubs, clubs and live music venues in England, with a
further 20% cut in business rates on top of existing support from
April 2027. This is brilliant news for English businesses, but because
business rates are devolved in Wales, we need action from the minority
Plaid Welsh Government.

 

Welsh pubs, clubs and music venues deserve the same support as their
counterparts in England. Following the biggest budget settlement in
devolution history from the UK Labour Government, there’s an
additional £6.5 billion available to the minority Plaid Welsh
Government for public spending, including support for businesses.

 

I’ve launched my ‘Calling Last Orders on High Business Rates’
campaign to fight for a fair deal for our local hospitality industry.

 

Let me know your favourite local pub, club or live music venue and
sign my petition here
[[link removed]].

 

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ON COLCHESTER AVENUE

I’ve been contacted by residents in Penylan who have raised serious
concerns about ongoing anti-social behaviour in and around the Co-op
store on Colchester Avenue. This has included abuse and intimidation
directed at shop staff, frequent shoplifting and stolen items
regularly being stashed in nearby bushes and residents.

 

I met with the local Police Inspector and outlined the problems,
residents’ concerns and asked for police patrols in the area to be
increased. I’ve also raised these issues directly with Co-op
management and asked that they consider employing a security guard at
the store to protect their staff and customers.  

 

I’ll keep residents updated on progress following my
representations.

NEW ZONAL PARKING SCHEME FOR PLASNEWYDD CENTRAL AREA

Following local consultation, work has begun to introduce a new zonal
parking scheme covering the residential streets around City Road,
between Albany Road, Newport Road, and Richmond Road.

 

The scheme will introduce:

* Permit-only bays
* Shared use bays for permit holders and short-stay visitors
* Pay & Stay bays (first hour free – 3 hours maximum stay)
* Limited waiting bays – to the east of the zone, allowing 2 hours
free parking
* Disabled parking bays
* Yellow line restrictions

Once the works are completed, parking controls will operate 7 days a
week, from 8am to 10pm, with double yellow lines enforced 24 hours a
day.

ARSON AT OLIVE TREE GARDENS

I am appalled at the news that the Olive Tree Memory Garden in Rumney
Gardens has been targeted again by arsonists. This is the second time
since May.

 

When I visited the project earlier this year, I saw firsthand how much
of a lifeline the dementia-friendly café and garden is to local
families, carers and those living with dementia.

 

To see it targeted like this again is devastating. Following the
incident, I met with Diane and Fiona, as well as volunteers and
customers of the Olive Tree Café and Gardens, to offer my support,
update them on my discussions with the local police and talk about how
my office and I can support the Café.

ATTACKS ON BIRDS IN TROWBRIDGE & ST MELLONS

I have received reports from residents in Trowbridge and St Mellons
about local birds being targeted with ball-bearing slingshots.

 

These senseless attacks have already resulted in severe injuries to
swans on Hendre Lake and other birds in residential areas.

 

Working with Shav Taj MS and our local Trowbridge & St Mellons Labour
Councillors, Michael Michael and Bernie Bowen-Thompson, we’ve asked
South Wales Police to investigate these reports, identify those
responsible, and take action to prevent similar incidents.

 

We urge anyone with information to contact the police.

CARDIFF EAST CHILDREN HELP SHARE VITAL WATER SAFETY MESSAGE

If you’ve recently had a walk around Cardiff Bay or across to
Cardiff Barrage, you’ll have definitely seen a number of drawings
from local school children raising awareness of water safety.

 

Pupils were invited to design banners to remind visitors that they
should not swim in Cardiff Bay, as well as in local rivers and lakes.

 

Congratulations to Diamond from St Illtyd’s R.C. High School and
Alys from Howardian Primary School, whose designs have been included
in the collection. Their work has been seen by thousands of visitors
and made people think twice before going into the water.

CAPITA CIVIL SERVICE PENSION SUPPORT

In recent months, I've heard from many residents in Cardiff East
experiencing difficulties with Capita when accessing their Civil
Service pensions.

 

Capita’s performance is unacceptable. It has left people without
access to their pensions for long periods, putting many in difficult
circumstances with monthly bills, mortgages and other payments. I am
having to chase Capita for some residents who have been waiting for
more than a year for their own money.

 

If you live in Cardiff East and are experiencing problems with Capita
and your Civil Service pension, please get in touch with my office
using the details below:

 

☎️ 02921 329736

✉️ [email protected]
[[link removed]]

EISTEDDFOD CAERDYDD 2028

Last time the Eisteddfod was in Cardiff, in 2018, it broke the record
for its highest attendance ever, with 500,000 visitors taking part in
this week-long festival of Welsh language and culture.

 

In 2028, I hope we will be able to break records again with the
festival returning to Cardiff.

 

I’m looking forward to welcoming visitors from every corner of Wales
and beyond as we celebrate the best of Wales.

NATIONAL LOTTERY SUPPORT IN CARDIFF EAST

Every year, the National Lottery reveals the funding awarded to good
causes, and this year I’m pleased to say that more than £2,150,000
has been distributed to 95 organisations across Cardiff East alone.

 

Over the last 31 years, National Lottery players have contributed
almost £65 million to community groups right here in Cardiff East.
That is an astonishing amount of money that has gone a long way in
Cardiff East.

 

I want to say a massive thank you to every player, locally and across
the UK. Every ticket is investing in the future of grassroots projects
right here in Cardiff East.

CONGRATULATIONS JEREMIAH AZU

It has been a busy month for Rumney local Jeremiah Azu, with success
at the European Athletics Championships.

 

During the Championships, he picked up one silver medal in the 100
meters and two gold medals in the men’s and mixed 4x100 meters
relay.

 

Congratulations, Jeremiah; you are a brilliant role model to young
people in sport here in Cardiff East and across Wales.

SIR GARETH EDWARDS STAND

Sir Gareth Edwards is a household name across Wales. A Welsh rugby
legend, earning 53 caps for Wales and making 195 appearances for
Cardiff Rugby. It’s great news that he has been honoured by having a
Cardiff Arms Park stand named after him.

 

Sir Gareth has earned this many times over. It is particularly special
to see the Sir Gareth Edwards Stand officially unveiled in time for
the club’s historic 150th anniversary season, which kicks off this
September. I am looking forward to seeing the stand full for our first
home game against Zebre on Friday 2nd October.

EXTENDING CHILD BENEFIT FOR OLDER CHILDREN

If your child is planning to stay on in education or approved training
after their GCSEs, it's worth checking that your Child Benefit claim
is up to date. HMRC is asking families to confirm their young person's
plans by 31 August. If this isn't done, Child Benefit payments may
stop.

 

You can get Child Benefit if your child is in full-time non-advanced
education and is accepted onto a course before they turn 19.

 

Click here [[link removed]] for more
information.

NEWS FROM PARLIAMENT

PRIME MINISTER'S LIBRARY AT NO 10 DOWNING STREET

Cabinet Ministers are invited to donate a book to the Prime
Minister’s Library in Number 10 Downing Street when they leave
office. I gave ‘The Fed’, A History of South Wales Miners in the
20th Century by Hywel Francis & Prof Dai Smith. It reflects my South
Wales mining family’s background, my career pre-Parliament as a
trade union lawyer representing the South Wales NUM and its members
and my Cabinet role as Secretary of State for Wales. These
foundations were rooted in every decision I took as the first Labour
woman to serve as Secretary of State for Wales.

 

As Wales’ representative around the cabinet table, I secured the
biggest budget settlement for our Welsh public services in the history
of devolution, protected our steel industry and delivered new nuclear
at Wylfa. I also announced alongside the Prime Minister a generational
£14bn commitment for our Welsh railways and the best local growth
fund settlement of any UK nation. These decisions will help transform
Wales for years to come and ensure that communities, including those
in former mining areas, benefit from the new opportunities this UK
Labour Government is creating.

ABOLITION OF VAT ON HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY BILLS

Many residents across Cardiff East have told me they're worried
about rising energy bills this winter. The UK Labour Government’s
top priority is tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

 

From 1st October, the UK Government will remove VAT from electricity
bills, helping to reduce costs and ease pressure on household budgets
when the next Ofgem price cap comes into effect.

 

This tax cut will provide some welcome breathing room and reassurance
for many households this winter. Find out more here
[[link removed]].

HMRC CRYPTO CRACKDOWN

Our UK Labour Government is taking action to ensure fairness in our
tax system, with HMRC issuing over 81,000 warning letters to
cryptocurrency holders this past year.

 

We are clamping down on tax avoidance, ensuring crypto gains are
declared and taxed just like traditional shares.

 

Everyone must pay their fair share to support our public services, and
with new international data-sharing rules launching in March 2027, we
will fully close these loopholes which allow crypto investors to avoid
tax.

PRISONER EARLY RELEASE SCHEME PAUSED

Keeping our communities safe is a top priority for the UK Labour
Government. That is why the Prime Minister has ordered an urgent
review into the prisoner release scheme that is taking place because
we have almost run out of prison places.

 

We are also making immediate, significant changes to protect the
public:

* Excluding High-Risk Offenders: Anyone sentenced for rape, serious
child sex offences, or grooming offences will be explicitly barred
from early release.
* Tougher Community Measures: We are introducing a presumption that
leavers are tagged, alongside longer supervision periods and strict
restriction zones.

For over a decade, a lack of investment has left our adult male
prisons at 98% capacity. This is dangerous and has resulted in these
difficult decisions that have had to be taken to introduce an early
release scheme. We are now delivering the fastest prison-building
programme since the Victorian era to fix this crisis and restore
integrity to our criminal justice system once and for all.

TRANSFORMING THE HIGH STREET

We have lots of high streets and shopping parades in Cardiff East.
Some of them are thriving. Others less so. The way we shop has changed
significantly with so much being bought online, but if we don’t use
our local shops, they will disappear.

 

Lots of empty units over a long period of time has resulted in
boarded-up shops, and a proliferation of vape shops, betting shops and
rogue businesses replacing important local services. Under current
laws it’s extremely difficult to intervene. We’ve seen this in
Llanrumney for example, where despite a strong campaign by our
Llanrumney Labour team, a third betting shop was approved for trading
on Countisbury Avenue.

 

The good news is that this is changing. The UK Labour Government is
revoking the outdated 2005 Gambling Act’s “aim to permit” rule,
finally giving local councils the power they need to refuse licenses
for new gambling premises.

 

We are also cracking down on rogue operators linked to organised
crime. By doubling the maximum length of Extended Closure Orders from
six to 12 months, we are giving our police and local authorities the
time they need to investigate and shut down criminal activity for
good.

 

But here in Wales, we could go further. In England, the UK Labour
Government is introducing new planning rules which will mean vape
shops and adult gaming centres need permission before opening. The
minority Plaid Welsh Government has announced a review but no
timeframe for announcing any new measures. Residents across Cardiff
East raise these issues with me regularly on the doorstep. Welsh
Government needs to get on with it to ensure our local high streets
can survive and thrive.

 

Read more here
[[link removed]].

HALF PRICE RAIL FARES FOR STUDENTS AGED 16-18

Thousands more young people are eligible to get half-price travel as
the UK Labour Government extends eligibility for railcards for those
still in education or training in time for the new academic year.

 

Previous rules meant over 70,000 students annually were left, on
average, £175 worse off than their peers as they lost out on the
maximum discount available. Now, 16-17 Saver railcards will be valid
for a full year from the date of purchase, rather than expiring when
the holder turns 18.

 

These changes make the rules consistent with other railcards, making
travel more affordable and supporting teenagers through the crucial
years when they’re accessing education, training or work.

ENDING FAKE BARGAINS & SUBSCRIPTION TRAPS

A massive crackdown on subscription traps will launch in January 2027,
forcing businesses to provide clear upfront pricing, send regular
reminders before auto-renewals, and offer a simple cancellation. A
mandatory 14-day cooling-off period will also give people the right to
cancel right after a trial or long-term contract renews, saving
households an average of £14 a month per unwanted subscription.

 

Alongside these protections, new rules will ban deceptive shopping
deals by prohibiting stores from artificially inflating their original
prices just to launch fake discounts that offer no real value to
customers.

 

These are just two of a wide range of measures our UK Labour
Government is introducing to reduce pressures on family budgets and
give people the breathing space they need.

[Labour Rose]
 

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