Welcome to my April 2024 Newsletter
Last month we saw Mark Drakeford stand down as First Minister and Vaughan Gething elected as the new First Minister.
We also saw recommendations published following the review into the Wales Air Ambulance service. I have provided a detailed update on the latest position.
My newsletters provides an update on several other issues.
As ever, if you want an update on something not mentioned in my newsletter, or I can help in another way, please email me at [email protected] or call my office at 01686 610887.
New First Minister
I congratulate Vaughan Gething MS on becoming the new First Minister.
He has a significant job ahead of him. I believe he needs to focus on getting NHS waiting times down, which are currently the longest in the UK. Improve education standards, and improve the economy and take home pay in Wales.
We have a couple of things in common, both born in 1974, and both elected to the Senedd in 2011, but we have different priorities politically. All said, I have always tried to work with other Senedd members across party when we can find common ground.
There is now an opportunity for a re-set. A key priority for him, will be to demonstrate he will be a First Minister for all of Wales, and there is a real need for the Welsh Government to build back trust with farming and rural communities.
Still No Decision on Air Ambulance
Earlier last month, the final report and review of the Air Ambulance service from the Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner was made public, which included his recommendations to close Welshpool and Caernafon’s Air Ambulance bases.
Clearly, that flew in the face of the views and strength of feeling from rural communities across Mid and North Wales. But recommendations in his report were not the final decision, just recommendations.
We were expecting to find out the fate for the two bases, when the committee with the responsibility for making the final decision met last week. We have since been informed that a final decision will now me made at the end on this month.
In March, I also questioned the Welsh Health Minister, Eluned Morgan MS and asked her to intervene. I also questioned what impact the engagement process had. Many will feel this was a done deal from the start.
My full update provides more details on this important issue to us in mid Wales.
Russell asked the Welsh Health Minister to intervene.
Swallow Awareness Day
I was invited along to Newtown hospital to mark Swallowing Awareness Day which is raising awareness of how speech and language therapists help people living with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
It was good to helpful to meet speech and language therapists Eleri and Pippa and patients to discuss their work but also the types of foods those with swallowing difficulties eat.
What is 'Senedd Reform'?
The plans to progress the number of Senedd Members from 60 to 96, and change the way Senedd Members are elected, are currently progressing through the ‘Senedd Reform Bill’. I am certainly not in favour of this legislation, and I want to set out why.
The Welsh Government introduced its Bill earlier this year which the Senedd is currently scrutinising, which if passed, will increase the size of the Senedd from 60 to 96 Members, allow for an increase in the number of Welsh Government Ministers, and change the Senedd’s electoral system so no longer would just one member represent a constituency, but several Senedd Members would represent larger constituencies.
There is also a second part of the Welsh Government’s proposals, which seeks to introduce gender quotas, and would require political parties to ensure at least half of their candidates are women.
Tackling Rural Crime
Craig Williams MP and I have met with senior officers within Dyfed-Powys Police in recent months in regard to a massive spike of rural crime along the Powys and Shropshire border which has seen over £10million of thefts since last July – a devastating blow for so many local farmers and businesses.
They have provided us with an update, and I want to thank both Dyfed-Powys Police and West Mercia Police for their work. Last month they joined forces for a rural crime ‘Strike Day’ which saw the arrests of 7 key members of an organised crime group in Shropshire. Large sums of cash, farm machinery and tools have also been recovered.
Since this huge increase in thefts broke out, Craig and I have had regular contact with both the Dyfed-Powys Chief Constable and officers to urge more protection for our farmers. The force’s work has been key to this operation, with critical DNA and footwear evidence retrieved from Powys crimes. This has allowed them to collaborate closely with West Mercia Police and share intelligence, with 17 Dyfed-Powys officers joining the strike to help arrest teams.
It is expected that around 20-30 crimes from the Dyfed-Powys region will be included once all evidence has been reviewed. This is very positive news for farmers and businesses across Montgomeryshire in ending this extremely distressing spate of thefts, bringing those responsible to justice and retrieving millions of pounds of stolen equipment.
5,500 Wellies
The Senedd steps have seen a number of protests and displays over the years, but I would argue that none have been as poignant and powerful as the display of 5,500 empty wellies.
Empty wellies representing the empty farms and empty communities that will be seen the length and breadth of rural Wales if the Welsh Government’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals go ahead without some serious and wholesale changes.
Following the huge number of farmers protesting at the Senedd and the 5,500 wellies displayed, I now believe that with a new First Minister and the new Minister for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, there will be an opportunity for them both to to rethink their plans and reset this policy by listening to farmers.
Road safety Improvement
Russell and Craig Williams MP met up last month with Police and Government officials to discuss safety on the A458 Welshpool to Shrewsbury.
Improving safety on our roads is one of mine and Craig Williams MPs key priorities for the year ahead.
There have sadly been a number of accidents on the A458 Welshpool to Shrewsbury road over recent months, which tragically included a fatal accident towards the end of 2023. Both Craig Williams MP and I believe that this key trunk road needs to be made much safer, and have been campaigning for a long overdue road improvement scheme.
Along with Craig and Councillor Amanda Jenner, we have also taken up residents’ concerns with the Welsh Government and Dyfed-Powys Police for vital safety changes to be made along the route. The route has now been made an official ‘area of concern’ that will see road policing officers regularly attending, and the solid white lines will be extended further towards Middletown.
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