John,
In a time of great uncertainty in Eastern Europe, I want to dwell a little on what that means for us in west Wales...
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Welcome to my latest newsletter. I can’t remember a time of greater uncertainty in Eastern Europe, which is why I want to dwell a little on what that means for us here in west Wales.

Unsurprisingly the crisis has brought out the best in our community, with offers of housing, food, clothes and cash for the millions of displaced families fleeing their home country. Whatever level of support you have offered, from the modest to the spectacular, you are all super-sponsors in my eyes.

It was against this extraordinary back-drop that Chancellor Rishi Sunak had to present his spring statement last week. The context was global inflation hovering around 7%, pressure on interest rates, potential food price inflation and energy and fuel bills at unprecedented highs.

Contrast this with falling unemployment and an economy larger than pre-pandemic, and growing at a faster rate than any other G7 country.

The challenge: to be as generous as possible to help business and families, but stopping short of losing our grip on a volatile inflationary risk which could undo – at a stroke – any advantages that our positive interventions might have achieved.

It is therefore no surprise that faced with this bleak landscape, many people wanted him to go further. However, he is restrained from doing so – at least for now - due to the risk of intervention exacerbating matters further down the line. It really is an impossible position, but I hope the measures that we have been able to introduce will ease the inevitable challenges ahead.
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It is only because our vaccination programme is so world class that we have been able to get the economy back to a position where we can confront the next wave of challenges from a relatively good place. I know Rishi well enough to realise that he will be checking every day how we can I improve and evolve the position.

One thing is for sure, none of this dents our determination to deliver the “levelling up” investments that will help us so much across Wales.

The situation has been a stark reminder of the need for energy resilience and security, and how well placed Wales is to play a big part in the energy revolution that will surely speed up over the next few years.
At Home...

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Pembroke Meet & Greet.

A well-attended, lively discussion at my latest meet & greet.

Sam Kurtz MS and I fielded questions on a range of topics, including social housing, sub-standard train services, jobs for young people and the cost of living.

It was a great chance to explain what UK Government is doing in Wales - and to clear up some misunderstandings around who is responsible for what under devolution.

Also a good opportunity to catch up with Jonathan Grimes (pictured) and Cllr Aden Brinn, our candidates in May's local election.
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Local Business Visit

One of the most interesting aspects of being an MP is the opportunity to get behind the office doors and industrial estate shutters of local businesses, to see the best of Welsh entrepreneurship and discuss UK Gov's Plan for Wales.

Earlier in the month I met Alan McTear and the team at Whitland Engineering. Alan took me around the site and explained some of their plans for expansion, with much discussion around the UK Government’s push on renewable energy over the coming years.

Really great to see such a thriving local business offering many skilled jobs - with, it would seem, much more to come!
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INTERESTED IN A ROLE IN TELECOMS?
Pembroke Dock event will highlight jobs available as Pembrokeshire broadband roll-out expands ([link removed])

Carmarthen Mart

A pleasure to attend Carmarthen Mart for their opening week.

Nock Deighton Agricultural have taken over the premises creating 19 new jobs and returning a facility of vital importance to the farming community.
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£3 MILLION Levelling Up Funding.

Every project applied for by Pembs County Council approved by UK Gov.

As noted by PCC:

“The nine projects will bring a raft of benefits to the economy and environment of Pembrokeshire ... hundreds of people will receive training, qualifications and targeted support to get them into jobs, and local businesses will receive help and support".
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Away...
Zelensky Address to House of Commons

A coalition, a pandemic, Brexit - and now a war in Europe. In my 12 years as an MP there has been no lack of dramatic events, but none matched today's speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky to a packed and spellbound House of a commons.

Speaking through an interpreter from a secret location in Kyiv, and with a generous sprinkling of Shakespeare and Churchill for good measure, the President exuded passion, bravery, and determination.

It was, by anyone's standards, a remarkable and historic moment. That people find extraordinary strength in the face of adversity is nothing new to Britain, yet today's speech, delivered as it was without fanfare, shone a bright light on the freedoms we take for granted. It was a stark reminder too of how proud nations react to aggressors, especially those as unscrupulous as Vladimir Putin.

Neither Ukraine or the UK hold Russia responsible for this outrage - this is not a war of the Russian people but of the Kremlin and it's increasingly unpredictable president.

Putin must fail and we need look no further than the remarkable President Zelensky to understand why.
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Times Interview

I sat down with Matt Chorley for Times Red Box to discuss the real life cost of standing up to Putin.

WATCH ([link removed])

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Meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador

With the Ukrainian situation continuing to unfold, I spent an evening with Vadym Prystaiko the Ukrainian Ambassador.

We discussed what UK Gov - and us here in Wales - are doing to help support the Ukrainian Government and it's people.
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St David's Day

To kick off St David's Day celebration, the Wales Office spent an evening showing off Welsh food & drink produce to Ambassadors from around the world.

Despite this being a week to celebrate all things Wales, it wouldn’t have felt right to undertake such an event without a Ukrainian flag by our side.
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Welsh Questions

As my turn at the despatch box preceded the Chancellor's statement this week, there was inevitably much discussion around cost of living.
In this clip ([link removed]) I discuss the benefits of Welsh freeports.
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Finally...

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As always, do get in touch if there is anything I can help with - my office is ready to assist in any way we can.
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With my very best wishes,

P.S. If you would like more regular updates, click the button for my Facebook page:
Like My Facebook Page ([link removed])

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