A view from Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd

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).

Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths writes…

It is a huge privilege to have been re-elected as the Member of the Senedd for Wrexham for the fourth time.  I never take any vote for granted and I am grateful to everyone who has once again put their trust in me.

As I reflect on the Senedd election result, it is clear this past year has been dominated by the global Covid-19 pandemic.  It has affected all our lives and I firmly believe the Welsh Government’s cautious approach in responding to the public health crisis resonated with voters. Thanks to this careful approach, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel and while we must remain vigilant, it is a time for hope.
The election result has enabled First Minister, Mark Drakeford to form in his words a ‘stable and progressive’ government. It is an honour to be asked to continue to serve in government at this critical time in our nation’s history. As we start to look beyond the pandemic, I look forward to playing a part in our nation’s recovery as the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd.

https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1392869958263222275

I also want to highlight how proud I am 17 MSs from Welsh Labour’s 30-strong team are women, and almost two thirds of the new Cabinet is female. Representation in politics matters and Mark Drakeford deserves great credit. I hope this will help inspire the next generation of Welsh female politicians.

Photo of our 30-strong @WelshLabour group today on the steps of the Senedd today.

The 2nd photo is at the memorial to our late colleague Val Feld who would have loved the powerful new cohort of Labour women in the Senedd.

She'd be urging other parties to follow this lead! pic.twitter.com/c9Dl6PHRLE

— Huw Irranca-Davies (@huw4ogmore) May 12, 2021

We cannot return to business as usual once this pandemic is over and the new Welsh Labour Government has promised to invest in our public services.  It will help our NHS get back on track by creating a new medical school in North Wales.  It will pay our care workers the Real Living Wage and fund up to 1,800 additional tutoring staff in schools to make sure our children are not left behind.  Our young people will also be offered a guarantee of work, education or training as we look to rebuild after Covid-19.

https://twitter.com/MarkDrakeford/status/1392914077488451584

More specifically in Wrexham, the Welsh Labour Government will create a national football museum and, having already invested £25m, it is determined to redevelop the area of the town centred around the Mold Road as part of the Wrexham Gateway project.  I will continue to champion these projects, as well as work to secure the additional investment our town needs as we look to bounce back after the pandemic. In the coming years, I will continue to deliver on my promises, support constituents and stand up for the town, despite all the challenges.

Proud to have taken my oath virtually and to have been sworn in as the Member of the Senedd for Wrexham.

Regardless of who you voted for, I am here to represent the whole of #Wrexham and if anyone needs support, please do not hesitate to contact me.

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) May 11, 2021

With coronavirus levels remaining low and vaccination rates remaining the best in the UK, Wales will move into alert level 2 today. A number of changes to the restrictions have come into force, including the reopening of indoor hospitality (six people from up to six households can book), all holiday accommodation and entertainment venues such as cinemas and bingo halls. This has been an incredibly challenging time for these businesses and I wish all those reopening today in Wrexham the very best.

While the situation is improving, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture and we need to recognise we are still living with the virus. The Welsh Government’s overriding priority will always be to keep the public safe. We have learned over this past year or so it is difficult to plan too far ahead and the new Indian variant is a cause for concern. The strain is currently particularly prevalent in parts of North West England. This could clearly impact Wrexham and Wales and will need to be monitored very closely in the coming days.

As Wales moves to alert level 2, the Welsh Government has published a useful Frequently Asked Questions page which outlines all the latest information:
https://gov.wales/alert-level-2-frequently-asked-questions

From today, cafes, pubs and restaurants can reopen indoors.

Up to 6 people from different households can book a table.

Let's keep hospitality staff and others safe by keeping our distance, bringing a mask, and checking in on the NHS Covid-19 app. pic.twitter.com/TZgMoK1KkE

— Welsh Government #KeepWalesSafe (@WelshGovernment) May 17, 2021

I am here to represent everyone who lives in the Wrexham constituency, regardless of whether you voted for me.  If there is an issue I can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me via the details below.

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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).