With Christmas now a distant memory, Parliament has resumed the work of changing Britain.
This Government is delivering our Plan for Change with investment and reform to deliver growth, putting more jobs, more money in people’s pockets, and rebuild Britain.
Locally, my team has been busy moving to new office premises in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare town centres (read more below). This will better help me to represent people across the constituency.
I am pleased to announce that, in an effort to better serve and represent the people of Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, I’ve recently opened new offices in both Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare town centres.
This exciting development will make it even easier for constituents to access support, share their concerns, and engage with their local MP more effectively. Please note that my phone number and email address remain the same.
First Floor, 27 a&b High Street, Aberdare, CF44 7AA
Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tackling Illegal Immigration
Government removes highest number of illegal migrants in 5 years
We must dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders. By crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe, we will deliver on our Plan for Change and secure UK borders.
That means being bold and innovative in our policy making to ensure we are leaving no stone unturned. This Government will do everything in our power to save lives and protect our borders for years to come.
The UK is set to be the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organized immigration crime. This will help to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and the smuggling of migrants into the UK.
This Government was elected on a promise of change – and within just 6 months we have redeployed resources for a scheme that returned just 4 volunteers and instead worked to remove 16,400 people with no right to be here.
No more gimmicks. This government is delivering for working people as we restore order to the asylum system through our Plan for Change.
There’s been a great deal of misinformation online about action to protect children. Specially about a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 8 January where, after years of inaction on child sexual abuse, the Conservatives attempted to sink the single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation.
What the Conservatives tried was political opportunism of the very worst kind. They have let victims down and they should be thoroughly ashamed.
To have voted against the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill would have been a vote against the safety of our children, their childhoods, their futures.
Child sexual abuse and exploitation are the most vile and horrific of crimes, involving rape, violence, coercive control, intimidation, manipulation, and deep long-term harm.
Perpetrators must be punished and pursued, and victims and survivors must be protected and supported. That is why this Government is determined to act, strengthening the law, taking forward recommendations from independent inquiries, and supporting stronger police action and protection for victims.
There has already been a national independent inquiry into child sexual abuse. This took seven years and was led by Professor Alexis Jay. It engaged with more than 7,000 victims and survivors, processed two million pages of evidence, and published 61 reports and publications.
The findings should be truly disturbing for everyone – they described the pain and suffering caused to victims and survivors, and the deviousness and cruelty and perpetrators. Nor is there any excuse for anyone not to recognise and act on the deep harm and damage of organised gang exploitation, abuse sexual assaults and rape. You can read the report by visiting iicsa.org.uk.
Yet the previous Government failed to implement a single one of the 20 recommendations from the final report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
In stark contrast, the new Labour government is taking immediate action on three key recommendations from IICSA reports. We will:
Legislate to make it mandatory to report abuse, making it an offence with professional and criminal sanctions to fail to report or to cover up child sexual abuse.
Legislate to make grooming an aggravating factor in the sentencing of child sexual offences, to ensure the punishment fits the terrible crime.
Overhaul the way information and evidence is gathered on child sexual abuse by introducing a ‘single child identifier’ and through a strengthened police performance framework, with new standards on public protection, child abuse and exploitation.
The Government will also take much stronger action to crack down on rapidly evolving forms of child sexual abuse online, including artificial intelligence-facilitated child sexual abuse material. A significant package of measures to strengthen the law in this area will be published in the coming weeks.
The UK Labour government is taking decisive action to put fans back at the heart of live events. They’ve launched a public consultation to address the issue of ticket resales and a call for evidence on pricing practices, including the controversial dynamic pricing model.
Consultation on Ticket Resales: The government is seeking views on capping resale prices to make the process of buying concert tickets fairer. This includes considering a price cap ranging from the original price to up to a 30% uplift. The aim is to prevent organized touts from reselling large numbers of tickets at inflated prices.
Accountability for Resale Platforms: New legal obligations are being proposed for ticket resale websites and apps. These platforms will be held responsible by Trading Standards and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for the accuracy of information they provide to fans.
Strengthening Consumer Enforcement: The consultation will review existing legislation to bring it up to date, including stronger fines and a new licensing regime for resale platforms. This will increase enforcement of protections for consumers.
Call for Evidence on Pricing Practices: The government is also seeking evidence on pricing practices in the live events sector, particularly dynamic pricing. This model, which adjusts prices based on demand, has sparked outrage among fans when ticket prices skyrocketed during high-demand periods.
These measures are part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, aimed at strengthening consumer protections, stopping fans from being ripped off, and ensuring that money spent on tickets goes back into the live events sector instead of into the pockets of greedy touts.
Temporary Changes to Stroke Services at Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board
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The recent decision by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to remove stroke services from Prince Charles Hospital has understandably caused significant concern within our community. Recognising the gravity of this change, I have taken immediate action by writing to the Chief Executive of the health board to express my concerns and echo the concerns of residents who’ve contacted me. I also asked for clarification on the health board’s decision.
In their response, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board has assured us that the changes to inpatient stroke services at Prince Charles Hospital are only temporary. They’ve emphasised that patients will still receive essential treatment at the hospital’s A&E department. If further specialised care is required, patients will be transferred to other facilities equipped to provide the necessary support.
I will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Update: Everyone Deserves a Christmas
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It was fantastic to work alongside Nick Smith MP to bring some festive cheer to families in our area. Our ‘Everyone Deserves a Christmas’ campaign successfully delivered 270 hampers, full of Christmas treats, to those who needed a little help this year.
A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers and generous donors who made this possible. Their kindness truly brought joy to many during this festive season.
Supporting the Prostate Cancer Campaign with Merthyr Tydfil’s Mark Lewis
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One in three men over 65 are estimated to have an incontinence problem, and one in 25 men over the age of 40 experience incontinence issues each year. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with as many as 1 in 4 men being diagnosed.
Mark Lewis of Merthyr Tydfil is living with prostate cancer and is a passionate advocate for change. He is actively campaigning for businesses to provide bins for incontinence products, a crucial need often overlooked. This effort ensures that those affected can maintain their dignity and comfort.
Recently featured on the BBC, Mark’s campaign is gaining well-deserved attention. I’m proud to work alongside him and support this important cause.
A wonderful visit to Y Coleg Merthyr Tudful / The College Merthyr Tydfil this month. The students were incredibly engaged and asked some really thoughtful questions about my work as a local MP. It’s always refreshing to see such enthusiasm for politics and community issues.
Their curiosity and passion for making a difference in our community were truly inspiring. I’m already looking forward to my next visit and continuing these important conversations.
My Social Media Platforms
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Stay updated with my work in Westminster, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare.
Here’s a selection of my other visits, events and activities over the past month:
Visit to the Children’s Ward at Prince Charles Hospital with selection boxes as part of the ‘Everyone Deserves’ campaign, and sweet cones kindly donate by the Bedlinog & Trelewis Community Council.
Christmas concert at Cornerstone Community Church, Cwmbach
Nine Lessons & Carols at St Fagan’s Church, Trecynon
Meeting with Inspector Meirion Collings to discuss local issues.
As well as my work in Parliament, my team and I are available to help constituents all year round, with a range of issues, including for example benefit entitlements, HMRC issues, housing, Home Office, and passport issues.
I hold regular advice surgeries across the constituency. These are an opportunity for residents in Merthyr Tydfil & Aberdare to come and chat with me about issues I feel I could offer advice and assistance.
To discuss specific issues, and to book an appointment, please call my team on 01685 383 739 or email Gerald.Jones.MP@parliament.uk.
Friday 31 January, 11:30am at Aberdare Town Centre
Friday 14 February, 10am at Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre