A view from Wrexham’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 their respective Parliaments and closer to home – you can find them all here.

Today, Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton writes…

In recent weeks, you will all have seen the headlines of people perilously crossing the English Channel illegally into Dover. This is little more than the exploitation of vulnerable people by gang leaders, human traffickers and smugglers.

9 months ago, the people of Wrexham voted decisively in favour of the Conservative immigration policy and putting an end to the UK open-door system. What is now being introduced is a sensible Australian-style points-based immigration system, ensuring people who are legitimate asylum seekers, fleeing persecution, can come here safely to live and work. This will work in the interest of the whole of the UK and prioritises the skills a person has to offer, not where they come from.

Our society has been enriched by immigration, no more so than here in Wrexham with our proud Polish and Portuguese communities, and we will always recognise the contribution of those who have helped build our public services, businesses, culture and communities. Having recently returned to the frontline to help at the Maelor Hospital in the fight against Covid-19, I have nothing but praise and admiration for the overseas clinicians who have come here to help support our NHS.

The unacceptable boat crossings at Dover must stop now. pic.twitter.com/7g5PXdl382

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) August 18, 2020

Recently there was a protest outside of my constituency office in Wrexham, arranged by Unite the Union and supported by Plaid Cymru Councillors, lobbying for an increase in nurses pay. Whilst this is a devolved issue and the responsibility of the Welsh Labour Government, I’d like to take the opportunity to reaffirm my support of our nurses and to thank them for their continued hard work and dedication. As a nurse, I will continue to use my experience and expertise to represent the profession in Westminster.

I completely support the right to a peaceful protest. I’m unsure why there is a protest outside my office, given I am clearly a strong supporter of the wonderful work that nurses do. Healthcare is devolved and therefore NHS pay increases are in the gift of the Welsh Labour Govt. pic.twitter.com/bRICL1jUn3

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) August 21, 2020

This has been a particularly busy few months for Wrexham businesses, who have had to adapt to the challenges that coronavirus has thrown their way. During recess I have visited a number of businesses and I am blown away by their dedication and adaptability. From the introduction of coronavirus safety measures to the adaptation of services they provide, Wrexham businesses have risen to the challenge.

It was a pleasure to visit the Salon in #Holt today to to hear about how they’ve adapted their services to life with #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/5wdNozHFFu

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) August 25, 2020

The UK Government has provided a huge and unprecedented package of support for Wrexham businesses through this difficult time, including the introduction of the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, safely encouraging people back into pubs and restaurants; providing income support of £5,500,000 worth of Government grants for self-employed workers, to cover lost earnings; protected 9,500 local jobs through the furlough scheme; and has given £24,427,960 worth Bounce Back Loans for small companies in our area. This is an addition to the supplementary funding for Universal Credit and the extra £4.4bn given by the UK Government to the Welsh Government to support Wales during this pandemic. I will continue to lobby the Welsh Government to ensure that North Wales gets its fair share, and that it is spent appropriately and for its intended use.

Finally we visited the @frisky_pudding where it was fantastic to hear how the @GOVUK’s #EatOutToHelpOut scheme has been working so brilliantly! pic.twitter.com/TMuwYDsEn4

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) August 6, 2020

I was pleased to welcome a Special Advisor from the Prime Minister’s Business Team to Wrexham to speak to local businesses, as part of the Government’s levelling up agenda, allowing them to directly interact with the Government on policy that impacts their businesses.

Over lockdown I have been pleased to have been able to correspond with so many #Wrexham businesses and offer any support I could.

I am now thrilled we are returning to some form of normality and to start meeting businesses face-to-face again. https://t.co/SqgqK9qVyR

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) August 25, 2020

As schools across the country start to safely re-open their doors, we have a moral duty to get our children back in the classroom, where they can get the education that they deserve. While the risk of contracting Covid-19 in school is very small, it is far more damaging for a child’s development, their health and wellbeing to be away from schools for much longer. Britain’s Chief medical officers warned that children were more at risk of long-term harm if they did not attend school than if they returned to the classroom despite coronavirus.

As always, if there is anything I can do to be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

T: 020 7219 4885 | 01978 291742

E: [email protected]

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Welsh and UK Parliament representatives to write a monthly article with updates on their work and closer to home – you can find them all here.