A view from Clwyd South’s Member of Parliament

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. This feature has been interrupted due to the pandemic but has restarted.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes…

My last piece for Wrexham.com was published at the end of February before the Coronavirus lockdown and, looking back at it now, it feels like a different world. My deepest sympathy goes to everyone who is either suffering from or has lost a loved one to Coronavirus and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to our NHS heroes and other key workers battling on the frontlines.

Like everyone else, I have nothing but the highest respect and gratitude for the bravery and dedication of frontline and support staff in the NHS and care homes and also other key workers such as shop assistants, transport workers, refuse collectors, postal workers, police officers and teachers without whom this outbreak would be so much harder.

I’ve thanked Ruabon-based Brother Industries for their generous donations of PPE to local NHS workers and care home staff.

Councillors and officials in Wrexham and Denbighshire County Councils as well as in Community and Town Councils across Clwyd South have done a fantastic job throughout the crisis. Many businesses and volunteers, particularly AVOW in Wrexham, have also made a huge contribution to keeping people safe and helping thousands of vulnerable people because Clwyd South is made up of many close-knit communities who support and help each other out.

Nurses at Wrexham Maelor’s children’s ward wear visors designed and manufactured by Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen

Since lockdown, my team and I have been working from home and keeping in touch with hundreds of constituents across Clwyd South by letter, email, social media and on the phone to discuss their concerns and help find solutions to their problems. We do our best to answer any enquiries as quickly as possible as often people need help urgently.

Wherever possible, I try to ring people back myself so that I can better understand people’s problems and provide moral support. For some people, particularly those who live on their own and are self-isolating, having a chat on the phone relieves loneliness. Also, given that my daughters are 20 and 18, I understand at first-hand how difficult it is for young people to cope with lockdown, particularly when they miss their friends at school, college, university or in their job. Mental health issues are therefore very important and it is heart-warming to see the large number of organisations locally and nationally who are offering such help.

Taking part in PMQs virtually – asking the Prime Minister about tourism and hospitality businesses in Clwyd South.

I have also been taking part in parliament by virtual means – for instance, asking parliamentary questions to the Prime Minister and other Ministers, which has enabled me to highlight important issues for Clwyd South including support for health workers, domestic abuse and the importance of the hospitality and tourism sectors to our area. I took part in the first ever remote division or vote in parliament’s history a fortnight ago and this has now become a regular process. I am also serving on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee which is a cross-party body that scrutinises Welsh issues and hears evidence from a wide range of politicians, experts and representatives of businesses and organisations across Wales.

The next phase of the crisis will prove complicated as restrictions are gradually lifted. Both the Welsh and Westminster governments will attract criticism and plenty of advice in this process and that is quite right in a democracy which values free speech and where everybody’s lives are at stake, particularly those of the most vulnerable. I will do my best to play a constructive part in this next difficult stage, mainly by continuing to keep closely in touch with as many people as possible in Clwyd South and providing help and advice where needed. You can always get in touch with me by email on [email protected] or by phone on 01978 269386 and I’m here to do anything I can to help.