As we look back across the first year of our Labour government, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. The scale of the challenge we inherited was massive. The financial situation proved to be even more dire than we had anticipated. Even so, we have rolled our sleeves up and begun making the hard yards required to begin putting things right.
And the signs are there that it’s working.
For example our funding boost to support the Welsh NHS has seen overall waiting lists coming down with long waiting lists down by almost two thirds since the end of last year.
There was a strong demonstration of what can be achieved with a UK Labour Government and Welsh Labour Government working together in our first budget last October – not least in finally putting right the injustice of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme, something that means 1600 miners across Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney now receive an average extra £29 in their pensions every week.
The recent Spending Review featured many significant boosts for Wales; a record £22.4bn per year settlement, £118m to keep coal tips safe, £445m into Welsh rail, £211m in local growth funding, £80m to secure the future of floating offshore wind to unlock thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of investment.
We have recently set out the roadmap to our New Deal for Working People, the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, with sick pay for up to 1.3 million of the lowest earners, day one rights to parental and paternity leave, scrapping zero-hour contracts, ending “fire and rehire” and more.
We raised the state pension by 4.1%.
We increased the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour.
We are currently working through our plans for Safer Streets, with more bobbies back on the beat. It was announced last week that Gwent Police will be receiving 40 new officers, 13 PCSOs and 7 Special constables thanks to extra funding.
We have also begun the process of introducing new laws that will give our police stronger powers to deal with the menace of illegal off-road bikes on our hillsides and town centres.
No one said it was going to be easy but we shouldn’t lose sight of the good work that’s been done and the hard work that continues as we deliver on our promise of change.
Let’s keep it going.

Welfare Bill
Working through the Welfare Bill has been a tough process. Events in Parliament earlier this month were fast-moving and it was unclear until the day of the vote what the final draft would look like, and so it was difficult to know what I would be voting on.
Since the Green Paper was announced, I’ve listened to those who have contacted me about this and I’ve encouraged people to engage with the consultation. I was pleased that the Minister for Social Security and Disability Stephen Timms met with councillors and members online recently to hear concerns directly. I also wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to pass on concerns including:
– Why the proposed “4-point rule” was not included in the public consultation
– Clarity on the numbers of people affected — particularly around PIP recipients who could have lost support
– Concerns that new assessments would require more specialist input for people with complex or invisible conditions
– The need for clear impact data before decisions were made.

In the end I’m glad the Government listened and responded to the concerns raised by amending the Bill to:
– Protect all current PIP claimants, who will remain under the existing system
– Ensure income protection for those currently in receipt of the Universal Credit health element, and those who qualify under special rules and severe conditions criteria.
– Launch a ministerial review of the PIP assessment, to be co-produced with people with disabilities and disability organisations.

Crucially there will be no changes for new PIP claimants ahead of the Timms Review, expected in Autumn 2026.
I was also pleased that the Bill provides an above inflation rise to the standard rate of Universal Credit, includes the ‘Right to Try’ work without fear of losing benefits, and provides increased support to help disabled people into work.
Welfare reform is never easy, but if nothing is done to put social security on a more sustainable footing then it is the people who need it most that will be failed. It’s vital that we get this right and I’m grateful to everyone who made their voices heard.
We must work to ensure that welfare reform is delivered fairly, respectfully, and rooted in the experiences of people in our communities.

Driving Tests
In response to concerns raised by constituents, I also raised a question asking for progress to continue on Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reforms to bring down waiting times for driving tests. This is an ongoing problem and I understand that it is still very difficult for people to book slots at our local test centres.
It was good to hear the Minister confirm that this is the focus of discussions currently taking place.

Surgeries
It was good to hold a very busy surgery in Nantyglo earlier this month and then Rhymney with Cllr Carl Cuss and Cllr David Harse on Friday. Coming up I have a surgery in Ebbw Vale South with Cllr Sue Edmunds on Friday, July 18th at 4pm-5pm.
Please get in touch if you want to make an appointment.