A view from Clwyd South’s Member of Parliament

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes writes…

As we emerge from full lockdown in Wales, I’ve continued to provide advice and support to self-isolating and shielding residents. However, I’ve also started to support the many Clwyd South residents now making the return to work as well as the shops and other businesses who are re-opening, many of them for the first time in months. The safety of every Clwyd South resident remains paramount, and although it will be a while before we stop having to stock up on face masks and bottles of hand sanitiser, it’s right that we relax the strictest guidelines as the number of cases continues to drop across the UK. The 72nd Birthday of the NHS was a great opportunity to thank all the NHS staff and care workers who have kept us safe through the Coronavirus crisis.

At the same time as I am supporting residents making the return to work, sadly, the announcement that Airbus is to reduce its workforce by 15,000 globally, and by 1,730 in the UK, has been immensely worrying for local employees. As a group of North Wales Conservative MPs, we are working closely with the UK government and Airbus representatives to do everything we can to reduce the number of jobs at risk locally.

Simon meeting with Mark Owen, Alan Davies and Matthew Roberts on a visit to Cefn Mawr Community Social Club.

In recent days I’ve started to make my first few socially distanced visits across the constituency since lockdown began. And I’ve seen at first-hand the incredible effort of groups like the volunteers at the Oliver Jones Memorial Hall in Dolywern, who have served up and delivered more than 1,000 lunches to support vulnerable residents in the Ceiriog Valley, and the volunteers at the Cefn Mawr Community Social Club who are working all hours to get the Club ready for re-opening soon.

Simon serving up lunches with community volunteers Ioan Davies and Ted Johnston.

Continuing the community campaign for step-free access at Ruabon station, I had a virtual meeting with Wales Office Minister, David TC Davies MP, to emphasise the importance of this vital improvement to the Ruabon community. I also hosted a virtual meeting with residents to discuss ‘The Time Is Now’ – a campaign for a healthy, green recovery from COVID-19 which led to a great discussion about getting more electric car charging points in Clwyd South, something I campaigned for in the general election.

Simon hosting a virtual meeting with Clwyd South residents to discuss a healthy, green recovery from COVID-19.

In the House of Commons, I was very proud to support the Domestic Abuse Bill which will strengthen protection for victims and ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law. I also voted in favour of the Immigration Bill which will end freedom of movement and enable us to introduce a fairer skills-based, points-style immigration system. I am also very pleased that the UK Government has announced the creation of a new Trade and Agriculture Commission to ensure that any future trade deals do not undermine our high food standards.

I also highlighted in the House of Commons the amazing work being done by local community groups such as the Penley Rainbow Centre volunteers who are tackling loneliness amongst elderly residents by making home visits and welfare calls as well as delivering meals on wheels. And I spoke in the chamber of the Commons about how Ysgol Dinas Brân have designed and manufactured PPE for frontline health workers which was praised by the Health Secretary, Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP.

Video clip of Simon and Johnny Mercer MP at Ministry of Defence Questions on 6 July 2020.

Residents in Clwyd South have warmly welcomed the Chancellor’s recent announcement of our Plan for Jobs in Wales and across the UK, worth up to £30 billion. Having recently been elected as a Vice-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tourism and Hospitality, I particularly welcomed the cut in VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors and the launch of a new Eat Out to Help Out scheme. And I was very pleased to see the support for jobs for young people including the new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme. This Plan for Jobs will be a lifeline for countless people and businesses across Clwyd South.

As your Member of Parliament, my team and I are always here to provide advice and support. If you’re a Clwyd South constituent, you can contact me on [email protected]. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s anything I can do to help you

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).