News

It's been another busy week in Swansea and Westminster.  On Monday, I was pleased to meet with Antonia Mariconda to discuss the Safety in Beauty campaign, which she started to protect those undergoing cosmetic and beauty procedures. She wants to see consumers empowered by giving them better information that allows them to make safer choices. The campaign also gives consumers a safe place to seek … [Read more...]

I was pleased to be able to speak in the Chamber this week during Home Office questions. The Centre for Social Justice have recently published a report “It Still Happens Here” showing the serious problem that modern slavery poses in the UK. An estimated 90,000 victims of modern slavery are unidentified in the UK and with England having entered a new, month-long lockdown, it is vital that the UK … [Read more...]

I am still having to pinch myself about the incredible generosity that Gareth Bale has shown this week - a legend on and off the pitch!  With his incredibly generous donation to our ‘Everyone Deserves a Christmas’ campaign, we will be able to distribute 300 glorious Christmas hampers to families who are struggling and give them something nice for Christmas. It’s been a truly awful year for so many … [Read more...]

As a result of increasing levels of infection across Wales, the Welsh Government have implemented a ‘firebreak lockdown’. From 6pm today until the start of Monday 9 November, there will be a new set of restrictions in place.  We must now stay at home, except for limited and specific purposes, and we must not visit other households or meet with people indoors or outdoors who do not live in our … [Read more...]

It's been another busy week with more work done on gambling related harm.  I spoke at a Money and Mental Health gambling conference on ‘Regulation, policy, and progress – what next for banks in tackling gambling harms.’ We need a holistic approach to tackling gambling related harms – we will not solve this problem simply by regulating the industry. While regulation is important and we do need … [Read more...]

It's been another busy week in Westminster and Swansea East.  I was very pleased to meet with Gerald Gouriet QC to discuss gambling related harm. He has considerable experience through his legal work, having been involved in the Gambling Law and is the editor for the leading textbook on the subject. He has given evidence to the Lords committee on gambling, and his view is that the 2005 Act … [Read more...]

Over the weekend you may have seen me on Channel 4 news or heard me on Times Radio talking about gambling. Channel 4 highlighted the tragic story of Jack Ritchie who was just 24 when he took his own life after years of battling with gambling addiction. Our current legislation is an analogue piece of legislation in a digital era, enacted at a time when smartphones didn’t allow access to gambling … [Read more...]

As you may have seen, as a result of a rise in infections across Swansea, there are new restrictions for all Swansea residents coming into place at 6pm on Saturday. This means everyone living in Swansea will not be allowed to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse and not be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with – extended households, sometimes called a bubbled, are … [Read more...]

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...]