A little over twelve months since the landslide election of this Labour Government, there’s already a strong legacy of delivery and positive change in Newport East.
In October’s Autumn Budget, the Chancellor unveiled the largest funding settlement for the Welsh Government since devolution began. An extra £1.5 billion will to help tackle NHS waiting lists across Wales and ease pressure on vital services.
Locally, this enhanced settlement has allowed Newport’s Labour council to begin reversing 14 years of austerity and start addressing the issues that matter most to residents every day.
A £6.6 million programme of road resurfacing and repair is now underway and streetlights switched off overnight due to budget cuts are being turned back on. These are things long called for by residents in Ringland, Bettws, Underwood, Caerleon and beyond raise with me regularly, and I’m pleased to see that the Labour council is getting on with delivering these things for the city.
Taking back our streets was a cornerstone in our manifesto and the Labour government has got on with the business of delivering on this.
Here in Newport East we’re already seeing that in action.
In the last year Gwent Police have made great strides, using drone technology to track and seize e-bikes and e-scooters being used anti-socially.
An increased police presence in parts of Newport East has also boosted visibility and reassurance on the streets and the Home Secretary’s summer crime blitz, launched in partnership with the PCC for Gwent, will provide further support to retailers, workers and our city’s vibrant hospitality and cultural sectors.
The Crime and Policing Bill that’s working its way through Parliament will further empower police forces to seize e-bikes, quads, e-scooters and other vehicles used anti-socially without warning. And consultation recently finished which sought views on reducing the time it takes to crush these vehicles – a move I know will be welcomed by many in Newport East.
As this work continues, I will continue to press Ministers for consistent, improved nationwide legislation around e-scooters.
Meanwhile, the redrawn boundaries of Newport East at the General Election have brought a host of new community groups, businesses and new residents that I’m enjoying getting to know, and a thrilling addition – the full span of the magnificent Newport Transporter Bridge is now in Newport East.
This feat of Edwardian industrial engineering – in the last stages of refurbishment, is receiving £5 million from the UK Government to support its restoration. I’m looking forward to stepping aboard the gondola once again and to seeing tourists enjoy the new visitor centre as much as I did when I had the chance to visit.
The city centre also falls into Newport East now, and I was pleased to share that Newport city centre retail occupancy and footfall are on the rise, bucking both Welsh and UK trends.
It’s been great to see Newport’s semiconductor and tech sectors continuing to thrive, attracting global firms such as Vantage and Microsoft in Newport West, and the expansion of KLA who have been based on Ringland Way for decades now. Technology developed here powers many of the devices we use every day, and I was interested to find out that the technology used in mobile phones for screen rotation was invented here in Newport East.
The Government’s industrial strategy and plans for an AI Investment Zone in Wales are already bearing fruit. From battery innovators like EnerSys to our steelmakers at Llanwern, the potential for secure, well-paid jobs continues to grow – supported by increased defence investment, set to reach 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 5% by 2035.
The Government has stood firm in defending the UK steel industry. In the face of unfair international competition, tariffs on automotive exports to the US have been significantly reduced thanks to the Trade Deal with the US, secured by this government. Energy costs for UK industry are being cut by £14.5 million annually in new plans outlined in the Industrial Strategy, and new proposals will prioritise UK steel in future government procurement, safeguarding skilled jobs for decades to come.
Steel runs through the DNA of Newport East, so I’m glad to see this commitment from the UK Government.
In April, wages rose for the lowest-paid workers – including 3,900 in Newport thanks to the rise in the National Minimum Wage. This represents a take-home boost of up to £1,400 a year for those workers, bringing wage growth ahead of inflation for the first time in years.
Alongside this, workers’ rights are being strengthened in the most significant upgrade in a generation: ending exploitative contracts, bolstering sick pay, and repealing anti-trade union laws.
Carers are also getting a better deal under this Labour government – the rate of Carer’s Allowance has risen from £81.90 to £83.30 a week and the earning limits, which sets how much someone claiming Carer’s Allowance can earn in income, has increased from £151 a week to £196 a week.
Transport in and around Newport is a hot topic with many and something raised with me on the doorstep regularly. After years of campaigning for a fairer deal on rail for Wales, I was pleased to hear The Chancellor announce £445 million for railways in Wales including money for improvements and stations in Llanwern and Somerton, as recommended by the Burns Commission. Once complete, these stations will offer better, more reliable transport for residents.
Progress continues with Welsh Guards veterans campaigning for answers about the bombing of RFA Sir Galahad in the Falklands War. I thank Ministers for their cooperation so far and call for renewed efforts to deliver long-overdue truth.
Meanwhile, leaseholders facing unfair charges from FirstPort are being backed by UK and Welsh Governments, with reforms on the way to improve transparency and accountability. Many, many residents have written to me on this issue and I’m proud to be working alongside Jayne Bryant MS and others to push these changes forward.
Many residents write to me with concerns about conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Residents have shown enormous compassion and solidarity and I know many are affected personally by these conflicts with family members living in these locations. Newport East’s diverse communities continue to offer a powerful reminder of the need for peace, truth and justice worldwide.
The future for Newport East is brighter than ever. From steelworks to semiconductors, community clubs to historic bridges — our constituency is forging a path forward, proud of its past and confident in its future.
As ever, thank you for your support over the last year. If there’s anything you’d like to raise with me, or anything you’d like my help with, please get in touch.
