Nick Smith MP Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent
So, the General Election result was brilliant and there is bags of good Labour stuff in the Government’s legislative pipeline, but it’s also been a bumpy first few months for our Labour Government.
As I wrote in my last report, some members are unhappy with the tough decisions our leadership is having to make and I understand the concerns.
These decisions are not the choices any new Government wants to make, but we have been left with a massive £22bn black hole in our public finances. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that this is the Conservatives’ mess that we have been left to tidy up.
This is a long-term project and stabilising our economy is the first step. Without that we will be building on unsteady ground.
The Labour leadership is facing up to the challenge to put things right so that we can begin the work of change.
We must also not lose sight of just how much this Labour Government has already done in such a short time to begin this process.
Bills to strengthen renters’ rights, to strengthen employment rights, to tackle water pollution, to begin to return rail to public ownership, the Great British Energy Bill.
The Border Security Strategy and introduction of the Border Bill. Scrapping the failed Rwanda scheme and redeploying staff to ramp up returns for failed asylum seekers.
The Crime and Policing Bill to take back control of our streets, recruiting up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigation officers to tackle criminal networks and taking forward plans to guarantee minimum service levels in local policing.
Passing the Budget Responsibility Act, launching a Strategic Defence Review.
Those are just a few of the many, many more examples of the real work being done every day.
And we’re only just getting started.
This is a mission-driven Government that is facing up to the challenges one-by-one, remaining committed to improving our country for everyone.
Pension Credit event
I was glad to put together an event in Ebbw Vale to help boost pension credit uptake in last week. It is so important to make sure that anyone entitled to receive Pension Credit is claiming it, as we know that lots of people who are eligible are missing out.
There is a national campaign to address this more widely, but I thought it would be helpful to bring together Citizens Advice, Blaenau Gwent Community Hub, and the Department for Work and Pensions to attend a drop-in event for anyone who may need help.
It was a busy morning and a worthwhile event, I would like to thank those partner organisations that came along to help.
I am holding another event in Rhymney next month. It will be held on Friday, November 8th.
Google Garage
I have teamed up with Google to again bring their Digital Garage workshop to Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney.
This is a chance for local businesses and individuals to learn from the experts at Google about using digital and online resources to maximise their businesses and careers.
The feedback from last year’s event was overwhelmingly positive. These workshops are worth attending if you are interested.
Please sign up if you want to attend: https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/blaenau-mp
Thank you to Cllr Helen Cunningham for joining me at my surgery in Llanhilleth, my next advice surgery will be at Abertillery Library, Trinity Chapel, Church Street, Abertillery, NP13 1DB with Cllr Keith Chaplin and Cllr Ross Leadbeater on Friday, October 18 at 4pm-5pm.
Please book an appointment if you want to come by:
Email – nick.smith.mp@parliment.uk
Phone – 01495 313167
Breast Cancer Awareness
Thanks to Asda Brynmawr for inviting me to find out more about this year’s Tickled Pink campaign, taking place during Breast Cancer Awareness month.
It was good to talk to the staff there about the campaign and all the other good work being done to support the community from the Brynmawr store.
Over the last 28 years, Asda has raised more than £90m in partnership with Tickled Pink, raising funds for new treatments, vital breast awareness education, and life-changing support for those affected by breast cancer in the UK.
Fochriw Primary
It was great to pay a visit to Fochriw Primary School recently, how nice it was to be invited to speak with the School Council and Eco Committee. Thanks to everyone at the school for a lovely welcome and thanks to Cllr Rob Chapman for joining me.
Tic Together
I also received an invite to visit the Tic Together group in Rhymney. This is a group set up by parents of children with Tourette’s Syndrome, based in Rhymney and with visitors from across South Wales.
This is a warm and friendly group where children can enjoy time together with others who share their experience, and parents can chat and support each other as well as aiming to raise awareness of Tourette’s. What a great thing to put together.