Nick Smith MP – Monthly Report – September 2025

10th September, 2025

Last month we all heard the terribly sad news that our colleague and friend Hefin David had died. I would like to take a moment to once again extend my condolences to his family, his friends and those in our Labour family who worked closely alongside him and also knew him personally.
I knew Hefin as a valleys MS for a good while and, following the changing of our constituency boundaries, I had worked more closely with him over the last year. We had spent time bobbing around the Rhymney valley together campaigning. He had an easy smile, a warm, natural charm and he worked hard for Caerphilly. He was well respected as a politician and well thought of as a member of the community.
He will be greatly missed.

Parliament
Returning to Parliament after the summer, there is a sense of renewal as we all focus in again on delivering what the country needs and wants – change. People want to see the changes they were promised, and we must deliver them.
Getting the country onto a steady footing before beginning the hard yards of putting things right was the sensible thing to do, but we must also acknowledge that there are some who feel frustration that things haven’t moved far enough, fast enough.
But we must also acknowledge the good progress that has been made. Our Labour Government has made a big difference to many already. NHS waiting lists are coming down, we are delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, we are putting more money in peoples’ pockets by raising the state pension and increasing the National Living Wage, we are making strong strides in getting police back on the beat to keep our streets safer.
Change has also been underway in our party, with Keir Starmer reshuffling his top team. I would give my best wishes to those who are leaving their roles and those beginning new ones. We will, of course, also be selecting a new Deputy Leader in the coming weeks.
We have a busy time ahead of us this autumn and these changes are a chance to adapt, prepare and refocus. Our mission remains clear, to deliver on our commitments and deliver our promise of tangible, positive changes that will improve the lives of people here in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney and across our country.

PolicingIt has been very encouraging to see so much police activity around anti-social behaviour on the roads in the past few weeks. Efforts to tackle bad behaviour in cars, on quads and bikes have been ramped up in some of our worst troublespots and it is yielding strong results. Vehicles are being stopped and seized, arrests are being made.
Alongside Councillors Carl Cuss, Mansel Powell, David Harse and Rob Chapman I met with Caerphilly North Inspector Lysha Thompson to discuss this ongoing work to tackle anti-social driving and off-road bikes. I also met with Blaenau Gwent Inspector Martyn Pugh to discuss this and the separate special operation targeting anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime across the borough, which has seen 21 arrests made in the past few weeks.
One of Labour’s key pledges was to make our streets safer, and so all of this progress is pleasing.

BCSSSWork is also continuing on proposals to provide a pension boost to members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).
Labour already put things right for more than 1600 Mineworkers Pension Scheme members in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney at our first budget, following years of campaigning by myself and other coalfield MPs.
Now I am asking that we do the same for BCSSS members, which would include pit staff such as managers, supervisors, and also women who worked in the canteens and offices.
I met with two of the trustees in Parliament before recess to talk through the progress being made, and I spoke with Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray about it this week – you may remember him after he gave us an update on Labour’s economy plans in advance of the last General Election.
I have also arranged a meeting in Tredegar next month where members can speak with the scheme secretary and hear about recent developments. I have raised this issue in the House several times now and I am assured that hard work is going into the proposals to put this right.

Steve Jones StatueWhat a great turnout for a fantastic event last week, with Steve Jones MBE unveiling his new statue outside Ebbw Vale Sports Centre.
This is a fitting tribute to such an unassuming man, who is one of the most successful long-distance runners ever.
When we see others reaching the pinnacle in any field, especially if they are one of us, from our hometown with a similar background, “that could be me” rings especially true.
I hope that this statue means that many more generations can be inspired by his example of how, with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything.
This was a great event with lovely speeches, great contributions from local schoolchildren and superb performances from Beaufort Male Voice Choir as always.
Well done to Parc Bryn Bach Running Club’s Lee Aherne for sparking this idea and Cllr Sue Edmunds and everyone at Blaenau Gwent Council that helped see it through.

VJ DayIt was great to see so many events taking place across the constituency marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), and the end of World War 2 in the Far East.
I made a short video for social media talking about one of the most crucial battles, which took place in Burma, in an area now called Tredegar Hill. It was there that the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers fought to capture tunnels used as Japanese ammunition depots, with 11 men from Tredegar losing their lives and 29 more suffering injuries.
At Bedwellty House, Tredegar you can visit an exhibition which displays information about this campaign and also the Burma Shrine, a casket of soil brought back from Asia in memory of those who died.

Local campaigning and surgeriesThere have been some really good and worthwhile campaigning sessions over the summer, including Fochriw with Cllr David Harse, Cllr Carl Cuss, Cllr Eluned Stenner and Cllr Rob Chapman and also a street surgery in Rhymney with Dawn Bowden MS.
Also, thank you to all of the councillors who have joined me for surgeries in the last few weeks, including our Fochriw, Rhymney and Pontlottyn councillors and also Cllr Sue Edmunds in Ebbw Vale South.
My next surgery is in Tredegar on Friday, September 19 at 4pm. To make an appointment please get in touch by calling 01495 313167 or emailing nick.smith.mp@parliament.uk

Wheezers and BreathersI was invited to join the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board “Wheezers and Breathers” group for people with lung conditions in Gilfach recently to talk about some of the group’s concerns.
It was good to hear from the group leaders and members round the table. I wrote to the health board to relay some of the feedback I heard and have arranged for a meeting to take place between health board representatives and the group to try and help with additional support for the future.

Vodafone
I have been hearing concerns from Vodafone customers in Rhymney about very poor phone service of late. I have been communicating with the company about fixing this and have received apologies from the company and assurance that work was carried out this week to fix a transmission issue, with further work also scheduled for later this month.

The RookeryIt was a pleasure to be invited to cut the ribbon at The Rookery care home in Ebbw Vale which has undergone a refurbishment. What a lovely welcome I received.
It was nice to take the time to speak with staff and residents, including 102-year-old Iris Fry. I’ve been to the Rookery a few times over the years, and I’m always struck by what a happy place it is.
I was pleased to see all the fantastic work that has gone into making a brilliant place made even better.

Shon Sheffrey Reservoir Fishing ClubI met with members of Shon Sheffrey Reservoir Fishing Club at the reservoir – an area I remember well from growing up in Waundeg – to hear about some issues around access to the fishing bank. I’m glad to see the fishing club is still going well and have offered to help.

Business VisitsAs always, I have tried to make time to visit local businesses to hear from them, to find out about ongoing concerns and offer any help I may be able to give.

Over the last few weeks these have included:
NMC Tredegar: A great local business that’s been in Blaenau Gwent for around 40 years and has recently brought in a new process which allows for recycling production waste on site.
Frontier Medical: A specialist medical device company that asked me to take up some concerns around their sector on their behalf.
Radical Materials: A very impressive and successful business born in Blaenau Gwent, creating innovative solutions for a wide range of sectors from their base in Rassau.