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I know people across Cardiff Central will have been shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Clare Drakeford, wife of our First Minister Mark Drakeford, at the weekend. Clare and Mark were married
for 46 years, devoted to each other and my thoughts and sympathy are with Mark and Clare’s family and friends.
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Cardiff High School Visit
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Visiting schools in Cardiff Central offers an opportunity to listen to the concerns and understand the priorities of a new generation of voters. It was great to meet A-level Law students at Cardiff High School
Sixth Form and discuss being a solicitor, then a Member of Parliament and how legal training and knowledge has helped me in both those roles.
The students asked lots of interesting questions about Parliament, online safety, trade union laws, parliamentary procedure and the most rewarding part of my role, casework helping to solve problems for residents
in Cardiff Central.
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Lisvane and Llanishen Reserviors
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I was pleased to join representatives from Welsh Water to view the progress of works to build a new visitor centre at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoir.
This project will bring so many benefits to the local community. A range of activities and volunteering opportunities will be offered, and I was really interested to hear about the water sports, education
oportunities and wildlife, birdlife and nature that are an integral part of the reservoirs and their surroundings.
Find out more about this exciting new development here.
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I had a great time visiting the Glenwood Church and Wellbeing Centre in Llanedeyrn to see their new facilities, which have received funding from the Welsh Labour Government and the National Lottery Community
Fund.
The centre offers a safe space for all, with a community pantry, a youth space, counselling spaces, wellbeing and support services and an accessible kitchen to teach cooking skills.
A big thank you to Paul Francis for the tour of the facilities and for the ongoing support you and the wonderful team at Glenwood provide for people across Llanederyn.
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Cardiff Bus Electric Anniversary
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In January 2022, I was proud to join Cardiff Labour colleagues at the launch of Cardiff Bus's electrical fleet. Funded through joint investment from the Welsh Labour Government and Cardiff Council, the impact
from these zero-emission buses has been incredible.
Throughout 2022, the buses have:
• Saved 1,000 tonnes of CO2
• Spent 94,976 hours in operation
• Travelled 1,403,604 kms
• Consumed 91.8 kWh / 100 kms in energy
I look forward to the expansion of the fleet and the further benefits it will have for our local environment in the near future.
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Alongside my Welsh Labour colleague and friend, Carolyn Harris MP, we hosted over 80 people from businesses and organisations across South Wales to discuss how they can support menopausal and peri-menopausal
women in work. At any one time across the UK there are 13 million women experiencing the menopause. Over half the UK population are women and its essential that employers understand the impact of the menopause
on women in their workplaces. It was such a positive conference and I learnt a lot.
Thank you to Delsion who organised the conference for Carolyn and I as well as the speakers and contributors from Delsion, Wellbeing of Women, Theramex, The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
and Nationwide Building Society for sharing their experiences and resources to help women who need support.
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Levelling Up Funding for Cardiff
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I welcome the news that Cardiff Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid, to which I gave my wholehearted support, as did my constituency neighbour Stephen Doughty, to improve rail links between Cardiff Central
and Cardiff Bay has been successful. This bid, which will receive match funding from the Welsh Government, is an endorsement for our Welsh Labour council’s transformative plans for Cardiff’s
public transport. Not only will this investment finally connect the Bay to Cardiff Central with a regular tram service, it will also act as a catalyst for the wider Cardiff Crossrail scheme, connecting communities
across our city. This service will improve transport not just for the people of Cardiff, but for the people of South Wales.
The Tory Government’s flagship Levelling Up scheme has been plagued by delays and a lack of transparency. Many communities with real need have been ignored while the Prime Minister’s own wealthy
constituency has benefited. What Wales will receive from this fund is only a partial refund for the money successive Conservative governments have ripped out of our communities. We were promised we would
not be a penny worse off from the EU replacement funds, yet the reality is that Wales remains £1.1bn worse off.
Watch my interview with ITV Wales here.
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I joined Vaughan Gething MS and Councillor Grace Ferguson-Thorne at Cardiff Reform Synagogue to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
As well as commemorating the lives of all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, we remember that these horrific acts did not begin with the concentration camps, ghettos or deportations. It started
with ordinary people taking a blind eye to discrimination, dehuminsation, legal segregation and escalating violence.
We cannot be complacent. We must be united in our efforts to challenge prejudice and hatred to build a kinder, safer future.
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Cardiff University's Next Vice-Chancellor
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Congratulations to Wendy Larner, who will become the first female Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University in its 140 year history.
I look forward to welcoming Wendy to Cardiff Central and working with her to support our university's ongoing world-class research, teaching, innovation and student experience.
Read more here.
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My advice surgery dates for February are now confirmed. These are an opportunity for any resident living in Cardiff Central to come and chat to me about any issue you might need assistance with or, to ask
any question you have about my work in Parliament and here, on your behalf.
You can see my full plan of surgeries dates online using the link below – please call my office on 029 2132 9736 – or email me at [email protected] to make an appointment.
• Friday 3rd February – Cyncoed
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Friday 17th February – Roath
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Friday 24th February - Penylan
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As the Conservative cost-of-living crisis continues, I know that many households across Cardiff Central are finding coping with utility bills, food shopping and debt management more and more difficult.
I want to make it as easy as possible for residents to access any help you may be entitled to, so I’ve put together a cost-of-living advice hub. This includes links to support for gas, electricity and
water bills, and any benefits or discounts you may be entitled to – and some links to support agencies who will be able to provide tailored advice and assist you if needed.
Cost-of-Living Advice Hub
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At this month’s Welsh Questions, I challenged the Tory Secretary of State on his government’s failure to support our steel industry. Thirteen years of Conservative governments has seen decline,
offshored jobs, and damage to communities.
The Tories have no long-term plan to protect this vital industry. More sticking plasters will not do. Labour will put Welsh and UK Steel at the heart of our wider industrial strategy, building wind turbines,
railways and investing in Carbon Capture Storage and hydrogen infrastructure.
We would invest up to £3bn over the coming decade to green the steel industry, working with steelmakers, to secure a proud future to match the proud past and present of Britain’s steel communities.
We've also put forward plans for a £1 billion contingency fund for energy-intensive industries to help with sky-high electricity costs.
You can watch my full exchange here.
And you can read my and Jessica Morden MP’s Wales Online article on our proud steel community and industry in Wales here.
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The Welsh Rugby Union have failed women employees, players and Wales’ rugby supporters. The BBC Wales expose of sexism, bullying and harassment within the organisation was shocking.
The WRU cannot continue marking its own homework. Rugby is too important to Wales and our international reputation, to be run badly and in such a toxic atmosphere and culture. After more than a week of failing
to read the room, the WRU finally took the first step towards accepting it has a significant problem that requires new leadership, root and branch reform and a complete overhaul of governance.
Watch my interview with Sky Sports News here.
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I visited General Dynamics Land Systems in Merthyr Tydfil to receive an update on the British Army’s AJAX tank building programme. General Dynamics is one of the largest employers in Merthyr Tydfil and
provides hundreds of high-skilled jobs in the area.
It was fascinating to hear about the AJAX tank's capabilities and see them being tested on a specially built terrain at the factory.
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Tory Attacks on the Right to Strike
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The Tory Government’s latest anti-worker legislation is yet another demonstration that this is a dead-end Government, all out of ideas. Strikes are always a last resort; workers don’t want to take
strike action or see disruption to services. But if the government won’t negotiate or give employers a mandate to either, strikes will inevitably take place.
The right to strike is a fundamental British freedom – but this government is determined to attack it. This legislation will mean that when workers democratically vote to strike, they can be forced to
work and sacked if they don’t comply.
As a life-long trade unionist and on behalf of key workers across Cardiff Central, I joined my Labour colleagues in parliament to vote against this desperate and divisive attack on working people.
I wrote in Wales Online about how the Tories clapped, but now they’ll sack our key workers. You can read my article here.
Labour is determined to stand up for working people. We have legislation ready to go in the first 100 days of the next UK Labour Government to implement a New Deal for Working People.
Find out more about our plan here.
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Many constituents contacted me to share their concerns about the Conservative Government’s Retained EU Law Bill.
It is clear that the Government wants to use this Bill to embark on a process of mass deregulation, driving down standards, rights and protections. The laws at risk are not cumbersome “red tape”
but important, often basic rights and protections that the public rightly expects. And the Bill doesn’t even provide Parliament with the right to scrutinise and make decisions. It’s a power grab
by Ministers that undermines democratic accountability.
Instead of pandering to the right of the Tory Party on his backbenches, putting the Tory Party before the country, Rishi Sunak should bring forward a positive set of proposals to create improved protections
and rights and allow MPs the time and power to scrutinise those proposals on behalf of our constituents.
Read more in my blog.
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Tory Sleaze and Scandal Continues into 2023
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Rishi Sunak promised a government of integrity, professionalism, and accountability. Instead, we see the same old scandal-ridden Tories.
We now know the shocking truth that Nadhim Zahawi was negotiating payment of his millions of pounds of overdue tax with HMRC and a penalty reported to be in the region of a million pounds for not paying that
tax, whilst he was in charge of HMRC!
In addition, the BBC chairman, Richard Sharp (Rishi Sunak’s former boss) helped the former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson to arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000 just weeks before Johnson
approved his appointment as BBC Chairman.
And the Deputy Tory Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, is subject to well over 20 allegations of bullying by public servants who have worked with him.
The Conservatives know they’re defending the indefensible, but the Prime Minister is so weak, he won’t take action until he’s absolutely forced to do so.
Labour will clean up politics and restore standards in public life after years of Tory sleaze and scandal. Our genuinely independent Integrity and Ethics Commission will have powers to launch investigations without ministerial approval, collect evidence and decide sanctions.
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Labour's Plan to Get Britain Back to Work
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Near-record vacancies in our economy are undermining growth and stalling living standards, all whilst hundreds of thousands of people who want to work are not getting the help they need.
Labour will take a fundamentally different and new approach, where we prioritise wellbeing and security above all when helping people into work.
We’ll do this by offering genuine quality, tailored support for those who want it, with help to explore the opportunities available and what might be appropriate.
We’ll provide people with more independence, inclusion and fulfilment. For people who cannot work, we will guarantee security. For people who do want to work we’ll stand by them throughout any
steps they are able to take, as they move into employment.
The Tories have let down millions of people who are out of work due to sickness. We need a Labour UK Government, which will be committed to delivering an employment support system that meets the needs of workers,
those who want to get back into work, and businesses across Wales.
Read more in my blog.
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Cervical Cancer Awareness Week
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Cervical screening coverage in Cardiff Central is just 66.3%, meaning that almost a one-third of women do not attend their screening when invited.
I was pleased to join the CEO of Jo's Trust, Samantha Dixon to discuss the importance of Cervical screening and HPV vaccines in the prevention of cervical cancer. I would encourage everyone to make use
of these vital tools.
Visit Jo's Trust for more information.
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Meeting with Ambulance Staff
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It was a pleasure to meet with brilliant ambulance staff from GMB Wales and South West in Parliament. It is deeply troubling that the UK Tory Government are attacking their right to strike.
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Railway Industry Association Awards
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I was honoured to recieve an award at the Rail Industry Association's (RIA) annual awards for my involvement in the Rail Fellowship Programme.
The Rail Fellowship Programme helps MPs to engage with the exciting and innovative work carried out by our rail sector, not only to keep the country moving but to provide skilled jobs and investment to our
local communities.
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Fur farming within the UK was banned by the last Labour Government in 2003. But the UK imports more than £800 million worth of animal fur from countries including Finland, China, France and Poland, where
animals can experience terrible suffering and mental distress on fur farms.
We cannot challenge the exploitation and abuse of animals at home, whilst at the same time continuing to accept these practices for imported products.
It was great to meet with representatives from Fur Free Britain to discuss how we can eradicate this hypocrisy by banning the import and sale of fur in the UK.
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