A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

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.

In his column for October, Clwyd South’s MS writes:

We have another new Chancellor in Downing Street since my last column, and will have yet another unelected Conservative Prime Minister this week.

While I don’t wish to dwell on yet more chaos at Westminster, I highlighted the devastating consequences the UK Government steering the economy like a bumper car will have on all of us in the Senedd last week. You can watch it here.

We are all now facing higher taxes, higher inflation and higher mortgage rates.

As the First Minister said last week, an economic approach based on the failed theories of trickle-down economics – and depending upon un-costed borrowing – was always going to fail. People across the UK have been treated like guinea pigs by this Tory Government. We will now all pay the price of a dangerous experiment which was doomed to be a disaster.

I am still being contacted regularly by residents who are concerned that work to repair the B5605 at Newbridge has not started yet.
The Welsh Government confirmed funding of £2.8m to Wrexham Council for the work in April, so I have once again raised the issue with WCBC to ask for an update to share with my constituents.

My letter is below, and you can read the council’s response on my Facebook page here.

Since my last column, I have had a wide range of engagements and in Wrexham and Clwyd South.

It was a pleasure to be the keynote speaker at the My Voice, My Choice celebration event for disability charity Leonard Cheshire in Dolywern earlier this month.

My speech focused on social inclusion, as we know that disabled voices can often go unheard. The fantastic MVMC programme aims to drive change by providing disabled people with campaigning and advocacy skills.

I also visited Ysgol Acrefair to catch up with headteacher Rebecca Turner about a number of school issues, which have taken up with Wrexham Council.

I joined Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales MS Carolyn Thomas and other elected members at the official opening of the Knife Angel in Wrexham.

The 27ft-high sculpture, which is made from over 100,000 seized knives, has been in Queens Square this month as part of a nationwide tour to raise awareness about the consequences of knife crime.

I held my latest advice surgery in Overton on Friday, and have confirmed dates for three more after the upcoming half-term break.

On Friday November 18, I will be at The Stiwt, Rhos, from 3-4pm. On Friday, December 2, I’ll be at Llangollen Town Council from 10-11am, and my final surgery of the year will be at Chirk Parish Hall from 3-4pm on Friday, December 16.

North Wales Police will be joining me to discuss any police matters constituents would like to raise. You don’t need an appointment, but these surgeries are only for people who live in Clwyd South.

This year, my Clwyd South Christmas card competition is open to artists of all ages.

I’m asking primary schools to take part as usual, but I’d also love to see entries from older pupils, local art groups and anyone else who wants to take part.

Entries can be posted to Unit 22, The Malthouse Business Centre, Regent Street, Llangollen, LL20 8HS or scanned and emailed to [email protected]. Please ensure you include your name and contact details or school. Entries will close at the end of November.

If you need advice or support, please email [email protected] and include your home address and a contact number. You can also find regular updates on my Facebook page and subscribe to my regular e-newsletters here or email me.