Nick Smith MP Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent
Last week’s budget was a big step forward for Labour’s mission to fix Britain’s foundations and deliver the changes we need.
Our Chancellor Rachel Reeves made choices that may not have been easy ones, but they are responsible. This was a choice between the austerity and chaos of the last 14 years or fixing the public finances and getting Britain growing again. It was about investment over decline.
The budget was also a strong demonstration of the difference two Labour governments working together can make in Wales.
Highlights for us included the largest real terms settlement for Wales in the history of devolution; a record £1.7bn spending boost for the Welsh Government to support public services like the NHS and schools; a boost in wages for thousands of Welsh workers – and no increase in income tax or VAT; £88m to unlock growth in Welsh towns and cities; an end to the injustice of mineworkers’ pensions; £100m to support steel communities; £25m to ensure the safety of Welsh coal tips and new opportunities across the length and breadth of Wales.
Mineworkers Pensions
I have been at the spearhead of the campaign to secure a better deal for mineworker pensioners for some time now. I was pleased to be mentioned by Rachel Reeves in her budget speech, and delighted to hear her affirm Labour’s commitment to doing right by mineworkers and their families.
By returning the £1.5bn investment fund, a total of 13,156 pension scheme members across Wales will see a 32% increase to their annual pension, an average increase of £29 per week.
In Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney, 1622 former mineworkers will receive an uplift to their pensions. This is the highest number by constituency in Wales.
I come from a family of mineworkers. I know how important this is here. Local miners spent decades working deep underground, doing difficult and dangerous work, to keep our country running.
It is fantastic to see our Labour government righting this wrong and returning what is owed to mineworkers and their families.
House of Commons Commission
I’m pleased to have been nominated as a member of the House of Commons Commission.
I’m looking forward to supporting our Labour government’s modernisation of our democracy and, as a lad from Tredegar, I was especially pleased to take up this position during the approach to the 185th anniversary of the Chartist March on Newport.
I was pleased to take my first questions in my new role during a Restoration and Renewal debate.
Digital Inclusion
Making sure that we have the best possible digital capabilities here in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney is something I have focused on in my Parliamentary work.
Having the best possible gigabit broadband is so important. I brought up the issue in a Parliamentary question to our Minister for Digital Chris Bryant MP, who agreed that are “significant problems in south Wales valleys communities, and we need to put those right.”
I was pleased to hear him mention the lack of a digital inclusion strategy for the past 10 years and, again, commit to putting this right.
On the subject of digital inclusion I was also pleased to meet with Vodafone and the Good Things Foundation at the new Abertillery Library recently to support the launch of their partnership with Aneurin Leisure to create National Databanks at our libraries in Blaenau Gwent.
This scheme is helping to tackle digital exclusion by providing free SIM cards to anyone who needs one. It was encouraging to hear the positive feedback from some of the people who have made use of the scheme and how it has made a difference to their lives.
Remembrance
It was an honour be able to plant a tribute in the Constituency Garden of Remembrance in Parliament on behalf of Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney.
I attended a service in Princetown on Friday morning and will be at services in Tredegar and Beaufort this weekend. I will also be making the annual trek to the Wellington Bomber site at the top of Trefil to honour the airmen who lost their lives when their plane crashed there in 1940.
Rhymney Hub
It was great to pop in to Rhymney Library alongside Ruth Jones MP and Cllr Carol Andrews to hear about the joined-up work being done to help residents through Caerphilly Cares and partners. The Rhymney Library Hub can help with everything from finances, employment, housing, health and wellbeing support.
Google Digital Garage
It was good to bring the Google Digital Garage back to Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney, hosted this time at Bedwellty House, Tredegar.
A worthwhile event providing invaluable advice to local businesses on how to make the most of AI and digital. Thanks to everyone that came along.