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Dear Friend,
I hope you and your family are well in these challenging times.
We've all heard the amazing news this week about the vaccine breakthroughs. Hope is on the horizon, but it's still early days. Welsh Government are making preparations to roll it out to the most vulnerable but in the meantime it is critical we continue doing what we're doing to limit the spread of the virus, save lives and protect our overwhelmed NHS this winter.
It's also been a very busy couple of weeks in Parliament and this week marked a moment of history in the House of Commons as I became the first MP to ask the first ever virtual PMQ. I urged the Prime Minister to reconsider slashing the aid budget and turning our backs on the world's most vulnerable across the world.
He refused.
As ever, my team and I are here to help in any way we can. If there's anything we can do to assist please do not hesitate to get in touch on [email protected].
With very best wishes,
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Never in the history of Parliament has there been a virtual Prime Minister's Questions and I was the first MP to ask the Prime Minister a question in this format. Thanks largely to the Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg who refuses to adapt to the health crisis we face and reinstate a virtual Parliament.
...Until the Prime Minister has to self-isolate and requires a virtual Parliament.
I raised the critical issue on which the international community desperately need clarity - the cutting of the 0.7% aid spend at a time when the scale of need could not be greater. The Prime Minister refused to reconsider.
Instead of showing compassion, UK Government are cutting lifelines. Instead of showing international leadership, they’re abandoning their post. This flies in the face of our values and our global commitment to 'leave no one behind', reducing 'Global Britain' to nothing more than another empty slogan.
An announcement on the fate of the aid budget is expected next week as part of the Spending Review.
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For over a year Julie and I have been working with the local community and Friends of Flaxland Woods to protect the woodlands from being sold at auction. We've now received official confirmation that Flaxland woods has been temporarily removed from the disposal list to allow Friends of Flaxland Woods time to position themselves to take responsibility for the land.
Julie and I will continue to support them in their mission to protect this important green space permanently.
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Standing up Against Fire and Rehire Tactics
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Throughout the lockdown, I’ve been working with trade unions and constituents to highlight businesses behaving badly like the Village Hotels in Whitchurch and to help protect workers’ rights.
Last week during Business questions, I asked the UK Government to outlaw shameless fire and rehire tactics used to undermine workers’ pay and conditions and line the pockets of big bosses.
They said no.
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First Meeting of Cardiff North Eco Team
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Thank you to those who came along to our first meeting recently. We had a fantastic turn out and over 150 people are signed up to be involved. The purpose of the Eco Team is to create a community network which empowers each other to live more sustainably through small, achievable behavioural changes.
It was great to hear everyone’s ideas on how to drive the Eco Team forward. I’m really looking forward to working with you all and collaborating with existing community groups to help create a happier, healthier and more sustainable Cardiff North.
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Phase 3 of the Freelancer Fund opens on Monday 23rd November at 10am. The eligibility checker is now live.
The last two phases were considerably oversubscribed in Cardiff and the fund closed within an hour. I have raised serious concerns that many Freelancers are not receiving the support to which they're entitled because of the way in which it is administered.
I have also requested that, given Cardiff is the capital and likely to be the home of many more freelancers than perhaps in quieter rural areas of Wales, that funds be pro-rated to Council's taking this into consideration.
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Barclays Bank Llanishen Closure
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Julie Morgan MS and I met with Barclays Bank this week to urge them to reconsider their decision to close the Llanishen branch next February.
We’re disappointed by the lack of consultation with the local community before this decision was taken and that Barclays will not reconsider at this stage.
Julie and I expressed serious concerns about the impact of the closure on vulnerable members of the community who rely on face to face services and who’ll be unable to travel the distance to the next nearest branch. We also raised the detrimental impact this closure would have on Llanishen’s high street at an already difficult time.
Julie and I will be working together in the coming weeks and months to hold Barclays to account on its support for vulnerable customers who rely on in-branch services and will continue to represent your views on this issue.
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Velindre Cancer Centre Update
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I recently met with Velindre, alongside Julie and here's a brief update on the issues raised.
Reported Tree Felling- We know many of you were worried by reports of tree felling, particularly ahead of proper planning processes. Velindre has assured us that it has not conducted any tree felling on the site. They advised this work would not be possible before the Green Infrastructure Management Strategy or the Construction Environmental Management Plans are considered by Cardiff Council in December. Survey work has been underway and borehole work has taken place on Asda land which we understand to have ended on 13th November.
Guard Rails – Understandably, many raised concerns about guard rails being removed and the impact on cyclists. Velindre tells us that transport engineers advised they be removed to reduce any risk for cyclists. However, Velindre recognised the concern this caused and had committed to looking at what solutions could be reached for cyclists. It was confirmed at planning committee recently that the guard rails will not be removed, which is welcome news.
Scrutiny of Development – Nuffield Trust is set to publish their recommendations on the 30th November. This will then receive a further round of scrutiny when the Health Minister reviews the business case for the development as a whole. Velindre advised that in order to move forward with its plans, it has to have both planning permission and the business case signed off.
Air pollution, Coryton Primary – Many had raised concerns about the impact of air pollution on children attending Coryton. We understand in Planning Committee it was agreed that a live air monitoring device at Coryton Primary will be installed.
We await the outcome of the Nuffield Trust’s recommendations at the end of the month on how best to move forward and the Health Minister's further independent scrutiny. If in the meantime there are any issues you’d like to raise, please do not hesitate to email either of us.
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It was great to speak at the launch of SERA Cymru - The Labour Party's environment campaign. I'm looking forward to working with SERA Cymru to continue driving climate ambition in Wales and to secure a fairer, more sustainable future for us all.
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Thank you to everyone celebrating Diwali in Cardiff North last weekend and who shared their pictures, videos and messages with me. Plans were a little different this year, but as communities celebrated good over evil, lightness over darkness, we were reminded of the hope that Diwali brings as we continue to battle through Covid-19.
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Coming up in Cardiff North
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Llandaff North Virtual Lights Switch On
Saturday 28th November at 5pm live on Llandaff North Festivals Facebook Page and YouTube. Santa and his sleigh will be visiting Llandaff North after the switch on where you can greet Santa from a distance!
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Yesterday we marked International Mens Day. This pandemic has taken an enormous toll on all our mental health and wellbeing, but men are less likely to seek help. If you know someone is struggling- reach out and let's focus on supporting our mental wellbeing in these challenging times.
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As always, please get in touch with your feedback!
Anna
MP for Cardiff North
AS dros Ogledd Caerdydd
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