2024 has been a challenging year for many of us, especially in recent months. Storm Bert and Storm Darragh caused significant disruption in my region of South Wales Central, particularly in my hometown of Pontypridd, leaving homes and businesses in distress just before the festive season. Our climate is changing, just four years ago we saw Storm Dennis cause similar amounts of damage and this recent devastation has exposed the failure of Welsh Labour to put into place additional storm protection to help communities.
Additionally, we witnessed the cut in Winter Fuel Payments from the UK Labour Government for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. This decision stands to affect over 100,000 people in our region alone. The stink of it is that the Labour Party did not carry out a full impact assessment before making this decision. 70% of disabled pensioners will no longer receive this allowance and it is widely understood that it is unlikely to save the treasury money because of the number of additional people who have applied for pension credit.
2024 also brought us a new First Minister, Eluned Morgan MS, who has yet to make any progress in dealing with Wales’ severe waiting lists, poor education performance, and the frustrations of farmers who are dissatisfied with Welsh Labour policies that do not fairly value or compensate them for the high-quality produce they provide for the country.
2025 will continue to present challenges for many, but I remain committed to championing and advocating for our communities. It is essential to hold the Welsh Government accountable for their policies and actions, which often do not reflect the views of the public.
As we approach the 2026 Welsh Parliament elections, political parties across Wales will seek the support of the people over the next 16 months. I am confident that the Welsh Conservatives will deliver for the people of Wales, focusing on actions rather than words. Our plan aims to produce measurable success and outcomes for the benefit of Wales, rather than to serve the interests of the Labour Party and their donors.
Finally, I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year, and I hope you have a healthy and prosperous 2025!
ENDS
