Latest news with #NewportWest
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'I personally cannot wait to continue moving in the right direction'
In the first year since Labour won the General Election, I've spent as much time as possible visiting residents across Newport West and Islwyn. As Newport West and Islwyn was announced as a new constituency ahead of the 2024 election, I've been focusing my surgery sessions on the Islwyn side, holding extremely productive conversations in areas such as Argoed, Abercarn, and Blackwood. As well as surgeries, however, I've also been out and about visiting vital community groups, charities, businesses and attending other local events. The most recent of which was Mount Pleasant Primary School in Rogerstone. It was wonderful to present awards to the children at the school, who had been recognised by the community council for their schoolwork surrounding British TV. Reflecting on the past 12 months, I was thrilled to hear the news that around 100 new jobs for residents in Newport West and Islwyn are set to be created at British Airways seat manufacturer, Safran, during a visit to their base in Marshfield. Job creation is something both UK Labour and Welsh Labour has at the forefront of its mind, highlighted during my visit to Newport's semiconductor plant with chancellor Rachel Reeves, and deputy First Minister of Wales, Huw Irranca-Davies. It's predicted the world-class facility will directly support more than 500 highly skilled jobs thanks to a multi-million-pound investment from the UK Government. With Parliament breaking for summer recess next week, this will give me a greater opportunity and more time to meet with people in the community, tackling important issues, and helping build on existing relationships. A good example of that work came earlier this year in Peterstone, where I met with Newport City Council leader Dimitri Batrouni to discuss the amazing community action group who are looking to save the Six Bells Pub. Looking towards the future for a moment, as well as hosting regular monthly surgeries throughout the summer, we have lots of hard work to do both locally and as nationally, and I personally can't wait to continue moving in the right direction under this Labour Government. A year on from the election, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all the voters and the Labour members who supported me in the campaign and continue to support me now. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the fact that an ordinary girl like me from Duffryn High School can represent the people of our community in Parliament is something that I will never take for granted. If you'd like me to visit your group or business in Newport West and Islwyn, then please do get in touch via Ruth Jones is MP for Newport West and Islwyn.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Church in Wales urged to share full reports as Archbishop retires
A senior MP is calling on the Church in Wales to fully publish two reports into allegations of safeguarding and governance issues at Bangor Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, announced he was retiring with immediate effect on Friday following a turbulent period for the Bangor diocese after the publication of the summaries of two critical summaries mentioned "a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred" and excessive alcohol consumption as well as governance and safeguarding weaknesses at Bangor Jones MP said "we need to see what the reports actually say, not just the summaries".There is no suggestion that Mr John behaved inappropriately. On Friday, Mr John confirmed he would retire as the Archbishop of Wales with immediate effect and would also retire as Bishop of Bangor on 31 decision follows the publication last month of the summaries of two reports into failures at Bangor to publish the reports in full, the Church in Wales set up an implementation group and oversight board to make improvements and implement the time, Mr John had offered his "most heartfelt apology to any members of the cathedral community who have been hurt or who feel I have let them down" as he faced calls from some quarters to resign. Jones, the MP for Newport West and Islwyn and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities, said there was "a problem" with not having "full sight" of the reports."Because we don't know the full extent of the situation or the problems in Bangor, and everybody wants to make sure that Bangor and the rest of Wales, the Church in Wales, goes forward," she said."It's things like making sure safeguarding principles are in place, procedures and protocols, and that staff and congregations feel safe."We need to know what's gone wrong, because unless you know what's gone wrong, how can you put it right?"A spokesperson for the Church in Wales said the reports into the situation at Bangor Cathedral were commissioned by the church and the summaries of those reports were made public. "We will remain in dialogue with the parties involved at Bangor as we seek to resolve the issues and to inform the wider public, while respecting our obligations to those who contributed to the reports on conditions of confidentiality," they added. Public review Senedd member Sian Gwenllian, whose Arfon constituency includes Bangor, has called for an independent "review" into "what went wrong" at the Plaid Cymru MS said: "We now urgently require a fully independent, public review - not a closed-door process - to examine what went wrong at Bangor Cathedral."Ms Gwenllian said transparency was "absolutely essential" as "the public deserve to know how safeguarding failures were allowed to persist" and "how finances were handled"."Only with openness and an honest reckoning can public trust be restored," she to the MS, a spokesperson for the Church in Wales said: "We are in contact with Sian Gwenllian and have offered a meeting to discuss her concerns and whatever next steps would be appropriate."
