BLAENAU Gwent's MP Nick Smith has pledged to "fight for a better future" for his constituency in a House of Commons debate on the Queen's Speech.

Mr Smith also spoke about the need for jobs in Blaenau Gwent and said the finance in tourism and engineering that the Circuit of Wales racetrack could provide would be "game changing" in the south Wales valleys.

He said: "The Government of the past five years were happy to see parts of the country get back on their feet and surge ahead, but that vision of Britain is short-sighted.

"It is a vision in which parts of the country thrive while large swathes of communities that still need support are left to wither on the vine.

"Struggling communities cannot be left behind. They need a fair deal to pull themselves up. We should not be content with a two-lane economy, with one heading to the future and one leading to a dead end.

" When speaking to the people of Blaenau Gwent on the doorstep over the past two months, the refrain was the same, Blaenau Gwent needs jobs.

"I can see from the honourable members with doorstep tans around me that many have done the same in their constituencies.

"The improvements to road and rail that are being delivered are the start. They attract businesses to our areas. They help youngsters and they help skilled workers to get to jobs elsewhere. But that is only the start. The future is not in reach just yet."

Mr Smith added that despite the difficulties, Blaenau Gwent remains proud and even "when cuts have threatened to eat at Blaenau Gwent’s community, it finds a way to fight back".