“INACTION is not an option”, Newport West’s new AM Jayne Bryant has said.

Ms Bryant was elected as Labour’s new AM for Newport West earlier this month, beating her closest rival Conservative Matthew Evans by a clear majority of 4,115 votes. She replaces party stalwart Dame Rosemary Butler, who stepped down this year after 17 years in the role.

The 38-year-old said she was under no illusions about the challenge ahead of her, with the crisis in the steel industry and the potential impact on thousands of people in Newport if the Tata plants close a particular priority.

“There are so many big issues on the horizon – inaction is not an option,” she said.

“But I was not elected to sit behind a desk, I was elected to be out and about.”

The new AM is a true Newport native – she was born in the Royal Gwent and grew up in the St Julian’s area.

Ms Bryant has also lived in Australia, South America and London, but chose to return to her home town.

Now living in the Gaer area, she previously worked as a senior case worker for long-serving MP Paul Flynn, who represents the same constituency in Parliament.

She said: “Politicians should come from the communities they represent.

“This is my city – it’s good to have the experience of being away, but this is my home, my family live here.

“I am Newport through and through.”

Following the result of the election earlier this month Labour found themselves two seats short of a majority with 29 AMs, and ultimately formed a minority government. But this means there will have to be some level of cross-party agreement for new legislation to pass, with the new element of the seven newly-elected Ukip AMs introducing a previously-unknown factor into proceedings.

Ms Bryant said: “We have to find things we agree on and work together.

“We will do that where we can.

“People want us to get on with things.”

She added she was grateful to the voters who had placed their trust in her.

“I feel so honoured and privileged to be in this position,” she said.

“To have the trust of people – it means a huge amount to me.

“I want to get going, I am not someone who sits still.

“I want to work hard for residents, everyone in Newport West, however they voted.

“We’ve got a lot to be proud of, but there is a lot to do.”

Ms Bryant can be contacted through her Senedd office on 0300 200 7104 or via Jayne.Bryant@assembly.wales.