News

This week, I was pleased to speak with the new CEO of Children in Wales, Owen Evans, to discuss the fantastic work the charity has been doing and are looking to do in the future. Children in Wales have been gathering information about the effect of coronavirus on low income and disadvantaged families across the nation and on what can be done to bring about positive change.  Prior to the start of … [Read more...]

There’s been some worrying news this week as Caerphilly became the first county in Wales to go into local lockdown following a spike in coronavirus cases. No one will be allowed to leave the county without good reason, family and friends living apart will no longer be able to meet indoors, stay overnight, or form extended households, and everyone over the age of 11 must wear a face covering in … [Read more...]

It's been great to see so many of you out and about in Swansea East over the summer - albeit in a socially distanced manner! - and I always enjoy being able to spend the recess working at home in the constituency.  I know that since my last roundup, there have been a number of changes to the Covid-19 rules and regulations, and it's been lovely to see families able to meet up and enjoy time … [Read more...]

This week I wrote an article for Politics Home on the importance of the rehabilitation and employability programmes offered by Working Chance for women leaving prison. The stigma of having a criminal record makes it incredibly challenging for people to find jobs when they leave prison, increasing the risk of reoffending and ending up back inside.  With over 70% of women sentenced to fewer than six … [Read more...]

I co-chaired another meeting of the Beauty, Aesthetics, and Wellbeing All-Party Parliamentary Group this week. We heard from a number of doctors and representatives of organisations concerned with the prevalence of skin cancer in the UK and discussed the important role which the beauty sector can play in skin cancer detection and prevention. Hair, health, and beauty professionals are in a unique … [Read more...]

The Chancellor’s financial statement was the big news out of Parliament this week, and frankly it utterly failed to live up to expectations. We need a budget that will support people back into work or to help them retrain if they’ve lost their jobs because of the pandemic. Giving money to businesses who retain staff might help some, but it will be wasted on many who would have brought staff back … [Read more...]

This week, the Welsh Government have announced that from next Monday (July 6th), two households will be able to meet indoors and form a ‘bubble’. This will be very welcome news to so many families up and down the country who have been missing their loved ones!  It's important to still make sure you’re familiar with the guidance: both households must stay the same – there can be no chopping and … [Read more...]

It’s been a week of virtual meetings – by now I’m getting quite used to seeing people on a screen rather than in the flesh as it were! I started off the week with the Northern Irish representatives of their equivalent to our All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm. The gambling industry and its pernicious influences are no respecters of borders and so it is vitally important that … [Read more...]

It’s been a busy week this week with some important issues being raised both in and out of Parliament. Tuesday marked four years since the brutal and senseless murder of our dear and inspiring colleague, Jo Cox. We remember her for her dedication to public service, her compassion and her determination to make life better for everyone. As you will have seen, today the Welsh Government have … [Read more...]

This week is Carers’ Week, during which we recognise the invaluable work our carers do, both paid and unpaid, in homes up and down the country caring for our loved ones. The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the work that carers do into the spotlight and an astounding 4.5 million more people have become unpaid carers over the last couple of months, bringing the total to 13.6 million.  We must ensure … [Read more...]