November Newsletter

11th November, 2021

Here is my November newsletter which I hope you will find time to read. I can’t believe it is nearly the end of 2021 already. There has been a lot going on in Parliament over the last few weeks, most of it reflecting very badly on Members of Parliament in terms of sleaze, double jobbing and the inappropriate use of resources.

I would like to reassure you that we are not all the same. I do not have a second job; there are not enough hours in the week to do all that I would like in terms of representing the people of Newport West.

I am appalled at the lack of insight shown by some who do not understand that people outside the Westminster bubble are watching and forming opinions of us.

The vast majority of MPs are hard-working and they are doing their best, so next time someone says to you about politicians, “Oh – they are all the same” please challenge them!

Best wishes,

It was a pleasure to start November with a visit to Rogerstone Morrisons to help launch the Wrap Up Newport project with Feed Newport CIC and Morrisons Rogerstone Community. The Wrap Up Newport project is collecting donated coats this November to help the homeless, refugees, the elderly and families in need stay warm as the cold weather hits.

In addition to the Wrap Up Newport project, the Morrisons Rogerstone Community Champion, Rachel, is supporting the Food Bank and the Royal British Legion. On my visit I spoke with members from the Risca branch of Royal British Legion to launch this year’s #PoppyAppeal which provides vital support to our Armed Forces community in Newport, and across the UK.

Last month the Royal British Legion were granted the Freedom of the City of Newport. I was proud to attend this event to commemorate the RBL’s service to the country. I had a great time talking to the Royal British Legion Bike Riders to hear about how they support the serving and ex-serving members of the British Armed Forces.

Find out more about this event on the Newport City Council website: https://www.newport.gov.uk/…/Royal-British-Legion…

In Parliament, I was honoured to plant a stake in the Constituency Garden of Remembrance to remember those who fought and gave their lives on behalf of constituents in Newport West.

The Newport Chartist Rising

Last week was an important week for Newport as we celebrated the Newport Chartist Uprising of 1839. I was proud to speak at the 182^nd Chartist Commemoration as we remembered the 22 Chartists who died for the right to vote on the 4th of November in 1839. Throughout the week I spoke about how the Chartists brought democratic rights to ordinary people, and the importance of protecting our democracy and equality. I think last week’s theme of protecting our democracy resonated right across the United Kingdom as the nation expressed their anger with the recent shenanigans of the Tories.

John Griffiths MS, Ruth Jones MP and Jessica Morden MP

In Parliament

The #Budget2021

Ruth Jones MP speaks in Budget 2021 debate

In the same month the Chancellor removed the £20 uplift to Universal Credit, the Chancellor announced his Budget.

The #Budget2021 does little to help hard-pressed communities in Newport West who are suffering from the worst effects of more than a decade of Tory austerity. This is not a budget for working people, it’s a budget for the banks and the bankers.

Whilst thousands of working people in Newport West will be forced to fork out for the extra 1.25% National Insurance tax hike next year, the banks, thanks to Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak, are getting a £4 billion tax cut.

People here in Newport West are facing a cost-of-living crisis – now, but there was nothing to address this crisis. There was nothing to help people with heating their homes, filling their cars with petrol or feeding their families. That is why Labour in Government would cut VAT on energy bills for at least 6 months.

It is a disgrace that online giants such as Amazon will be getting a £12 billion tax cut when some of the poorest in our community are forced to pay more. People with the broadest shoulders should be paying their fair share of tax, not hard-working people who will end up paying an extra £1.7 billion over the next 5 years.

Like many local people, I am desperately concerned that there was no real attempt to address the impact of the recent Tory cut to Universal Credit, which was the biggest overnight cut to welfare since World War II. Millions of people, including 9000 households in Newport West have had their Universal Credit cut, having a devastating impact on families here and across Wales. Rest assured, I will keep fighting for all of you.

You can watch my speech in the #Budget2021 debate here: https://fb.watch/9aii8a238P/

The Environment Bill

As Shadow Minister for Air Quality, I led the Environment Bill debate for Labour, with a particular focus on air quality, and the Lords Amendment from Baroness Hayman, demanding the Environment Bill sets particulate matter (PM2.5) targets as strict as the World Health Organisation guidelines by the 1st of January 2030 – at the latest.

Not only is it shocking that it has taken the UK Government a whopping 629 days to get through this weakened and much-delayed Bill, but the Tories voted against amendments to clean up our air.

The Labour Party reiterates our pledge to deliver a stand-alone Clean Air Act. We need a Clean Air Act which will establish a legal right to breathe clean air by ensuring the law on air quality is at least as strict as WHO guidelines, with tough new duties on Ministers to enforce them and grant new powers to local authorities to take urgent action on air quality. This is what Labour in Westminster will deliver, and is already delivering in Wales. Luckily in Wales there is a Clean Air (Wales) Bill in motion.

You can watch my Westminster Hall debate on COP26 and the impact of air pollution on public health and wellbeing, here: https://fb.watch/9aiCT9eF_L/

The Sewage Scandal

After the Tories voted to allow raw sewage to flow into our rivers and seas, there was – quite understandably – an uproar. It is disgraceful that the Tories voted against our amendments that would have placed a legal duty on water companies not to pump waste into rivers. And I’m not forgetting that 22 Tory MPs rebelled and voted with us on this.

Mounting pressure from the public brought on one of the many screeching U-turns of this incompetent Government. So, this week, the Tories voted through a weaker amendment on the raw sewage scandal. The Tories settled for looking busy, instead of setting firm targets to end this sewage crisis.

Labour wanted to strengthen the Environment Bill. We wanted quick and bold action to clean up rivers and air, but at every opportunity, the Tories have voted against our amendments.

Rest assured, the campaign to clean up our rivers and clean up the air will continue.

This month constituents have mostly been in touch with my office about:

– Energy, Utilities and Environment
– Health, Services and Medicine
– Culture, Charities, Media and Sport

My office continues to support people across Newport West so if you have a query or need assistance please contact us on ruth.jones.mp@parliament.uk or 01633 256268.