MP speaks out on the environment, crime and Newport County

SINCE my last Argus column, one of the issues cropping up most regularly in my mailbox has been climate change, and I’d like to thank everyone who contacted me ahead of Labour’s climate and environment emergency debate at the start of the month.

The motion to declare a climate emergency, following in the footsteps of the Welsh Government, passed unanimously.

Many constituents, including lots of schoolchildren, had written to me asking me to speak in the debate and I was pleased to be able to do that.

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In my speech, I highlighted how climate change is wreaking havoc on our wildlife and habitats and called for a rapid and large scale response from the UK Government.

I also praised the Welsh Government for its work on decarbonisation and called on decision-makers to harness the passion of young activists.

You can read my speech in full on my website:

- I spoke in the debate on serious violence last week to highlight the challenges the police are facing in Gwent with the emergence of county lines and drug-related violence as a serious threat.

In the debate I highlighted the great work Gwent Police have done in bringing criminals to justice and taking drugs off our streets.

The force deserve great credit for their work in this area - over the last 6 months 163 serious organised crime arrests have taken place, and Gwent Police have seized about £600,000, 50 high-value vehicles and hundreds of kilos of class A and B drugs.

At the same time the force have also been engaging in partnership work – including with Newport Council, Newport Live, the Welsh Government and organisations like Crimestoppers, St Giles, MutualGain and Barnardo’s – to turn young people away from a life of crime.

There is great partnership work going on in Gwent, but this requires time, staff and resources from each agency involved.

In the debate I asked the government to consider the potential of what could be achieved if swathing cuts to police and local councils were reversed.

I firmly believe that with significant investment, preventative action could be one of the answers to much of the youth crime and violence we see.

- I couldn’t finish this article without wishing Newport County all the best for the League Two play-off final this weekend.

It’ll be a memorable occasion for the thousands of fans travelling up from Gwent to Wembley, and the club can be proud of an extraordinary season on and off the pitch.

The club’s community arm is also going from strength to strength, and Mental Health Awareness Week earlier this month was a chance to celebrate the good partnership work County in the community are undertaking with the FAW on the ‘We Wear The Same Shirt’ initiative, which has received national acclaim.

The trip to Wembley – an amazing fourth visit since 2012 – also offers another opportunity to reflect on how far the club has come since the sad demise of the old Ironsides in 1989.

Thirty years on, the club are one game away from returning to the third tier of English football.

Best of luck to Michael Flynn and his players this weekend – whatever happens, you have done us proud.