Latest news with #NiaGriffith
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
The Reform revolution is about to strike Labour's Welsh heartlands
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's attack on Nigel Farage to shore up Labour's standing in its traditional working-class heartlands has appeared to fall on deaf ears, with the party losing to Reform UK in a local by-election in the ward of Lliedi in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. An impressive victory in the south-west of Wales, Reform UK won 43 per cent of the vote share in Lliedi – with Labour's plunging to just 23 per cent, a drop of 35 percentage points. There wasn't much good news for the Tories, with theirs dropping into single digits, registering just seven per cent. The new councillor, Michelle Beer, is the wife of Gareth Beer – the Reform UK candidate who came within 1,505 votes of unseating the sitting Labour MP for Llanelli, Dame Nia Griffith, at last year's general election. The result in Lliedi follows Reform's gain at Labour's expense last month in a local by-election for the Bridgend ward of Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr in south Wales. But why is the governing party losing its grip on these Welsh heartlands? There are a variety of factors at play – one being Welsh Labour's spectacular mismanagement of the National Health Service (with healthcare being a devolved responsibility). According to a recent report produced by a group of independent experts, there is a 'high risk' of increasing patient harm if there is not an 'urgent improvement and turnaround' in the Welsh NHS – with emergency care and cancer treatment cited as areas which needed addressing. While Labour has sought to blame the previous Tory government for troubles with the NHS in England, it has nowhere to hide in Wales, which has had a Labour First Minister since the creation of the Welsh Assembly. However, the ongoing small-boats emergency on the English south coast cannot be overlooked, with its reverberations now impacting on local politics in the south of Wales. Llanelli recently witnessed protests over the four-star Stradey Park Hotel being pencilled in as a venue to house 207 asylum seekers, with the Home Office eventually u-turning on the matter. But the damage has been done, with established communities in Welsh towns knowing that they have been eyed up by Whitehall for the relocation of illegal Channel migrants. With Labour's 'smashing the gangs' strategy failing miserably and the Tories having lost all credibility over immigration, Reform UK are well positioned to cash in electorally on this front. Reform's spectacular surge in the recent English local elections, which saw the party gain council control in Durham and Doncaster, shows that Farage's turquoise army is more than capable of parking their tanks on Labour's red lawns. Labour is running the risk of an electoral bloodbath in Britain's traditional Left-wing heartlands – at the hands of an insurgent challenger party of the Right which is led by a man who once wanted to keep the Thatcherite flame alive. Rather than go on the attack, Starmer would be wise to undertake a serious period of reflection.
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Update on plans for Wales' largest new office with building work end date in sight
Update on plans for Wales' largest new office with building work end date in sight Thousands of staff at banking giant Lloyds are due to move into the building next year The huge building will be home to 3,000 employees of Lloyds The largest new office scheme in Wales has secured a £15m loan from the Cardiff Capital Region to complete construction work. Family-owned property development firm JR Smart has been backed with funding from the city region's Strategic Premises Fund for its 114,000 sq ft Cardiff city centre John Street 10-storey office scheme. Last year Lloyds Banking Group agreed a long-term lease to occupy the entire building. While the external structure is completed it still requires significant internal work such as mechanical engineering. Lloyds has agreed a 15-year lease, with a break after 10, at just under £30 per sq ft. The new headquarters building for Lloyds will be able to accommodate 3,000 staff in various teams providing customer service and support services to many parts of the group. JR Smart is expected to complete work on John Street this December, which following a fit-out will see Lloyds taking occupancy of the entire building in the summer of 2026. Article continues below Welsh Government cabinet secretary for economy, energy, and planning Rebecca Evans said: "This investment in new office space at John Street in Cardiff will support key priorities such as business growth and regeneration for the regional economy. "We continue to actively explore opportunities to work collaboratively with the Cardiff Capital Region in order to deliver significant economic benefits." Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith said: "I am very pleased to see the UK Government's investment in the Cardiff Capital Region. This will help to deliver on our economic growth mission, a vital part of our plan for change. Article continues below "This development, along with improved transport links, will provide fantastic facilities to encourage businesses to base themselves in Cardiff and to expand, helping to create new jobs and put more money in people's pockets." Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and the city region's portfolio lead for the Strategic Premises Fund, said: "This investment plays its part in further developing exciting and environmentally sustainable office space that national brands wish to take up, adding to the long-term inclusive growth in our region. Our vision to connect communities, services and businesses continues to develop and our interventions in office space and transport links have a key transformative role." The £50m Strategic Premises Fund from the city region, made up of the 10 local authorities of south-east Wales and funded by its now nearly fully committed £1.2bn City Deal from the UK and Welsh governments, is evergreen with interest and capital from loans made reinvested to back other building and infrastructure projects.
South Wales Guardian
03-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Diwrnod Sir Gâr' celebrates Carmarthenshire at Westminster
The event, called Diwrnod Sir Gâr, took place on April 30 and highlighted the county's producers, people, and traditions. It was held in Westminster Hall and organised with the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW). The event aimed to showcase the strength and economic contribution of rural Wales. It was attended by parliamentarians, peers, and 35 FUW members from Carmarthenshire. Ms Davies, MP for Caerfyrddin and Carmarthenshire county chair of the FUW, said: "Carmarthenshire is a county built on hard work, innovation and community. "It was a huge privilege to bring our producers to Westminster and to showcase what makes our part of Wales so special. "This event was about more than products – it was about giving rural voices the platform they deserve and reminding Westminster of the value that regions like ours both economically and culturally." The event featured nine producers from the region, including Bremenda Isaf, Tregroes Waffles, Brecon Carreg, Castell Howell, Coaltown Coffee, Mêl Gwenyn Gruffydd, Caws Cenarth, Carmarthen Ham, and The Welsh Wool Shop. They had the opportunity to engage with MPs, Lords, and guests, providing insight into the diversity and quality of Carmarthenshire's food, drink, and craft sectors. The event was officially opened by Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, whose constituency includes part of Carmarthenshire. Ian Rickman, president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, said: "2025 marks an important year for the Farmers' Union of Wales, as we celebrate 70 years since the union was founded in Carmarthenshire. "Working alongside Ann Davies MP, we were delighted to support this successful event, bringing a taste of West Wales to the heart of Westminster." Throughout the day, parliamentarians visited the exhibition, speaking with producers, learning about their work, and understanding the challenges they face. Reflecting on the event's success, Ms Davies said: "Diwrnod Sir Gâr showed exactly why Carmarthenshire deserves to be on the map – for its quality, its people and its potential. "I will continue to champion our county in Parliament and ensure that rural Wales is not only seen but heard."
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Minister says she ‘should have done more' to protect LGBT+ students in the 1980s
An equalities minister has said she 'should have done more' to protect pupils who faced discrimination due to their sexuality during her time as a secondary school teacher. Dame Nia Griffith said she feared losing her job as a teacher in the 1980s if she called out discriminatory language because of legislation at the time which prevented intentional promotion of homosexuality. In the classroom, if a pupil was verbally being hateful or discriminatory towards one of their peers, I did not want it to go unchallenged, but found myself just telling them not to use such language, or risk upsetting someone Dame Nia Griffith Dame Nia said: 'I did not protect those pupils who were the object of such comments in the way that they should have been protected. I should have done more.' Speaking in the Commons, Dame Nia, who came out publicly as a lesbian in 2016, said coming out to family or classmates is still 'challenging and scary' for those in the LGBT+ community. Opening a debate on LGBT+ history month, she said: 'Before entering into politics, I was by profession a comprehensive school teacher. 'But back in the 80s, section 28 – introduced into law by the then- Conservative government – banned the promotion of homosexuality or the teaching, in any maintained school, of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. 'In the classroom, if a pupil was verbally being hateful or discriminatory towards one of their peers, I did not want it to go unchallenged but found myself just telling them not to use such language, or risk upsetting someone. 'Anything more explicit could potentially be promoting homosexuality, and breaking the law, and risked me losing my job. 'I did not protect those pupils who were the object of such comments in the way that they should have been protected. I should have done more. 'Today, the notion that an LGBT+ family is pretend is absurd to most. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to find same-sex parents picking up their children from school.' Intervening, Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North) said: 'I appreciate the minister's apology, but to have taken such a stance would have meant she would have lost her job. 'And I think although we can always reflect, and always do better in hindsight, we have to be kind to ourselves and give ourselves the space to be able to see that grace in ourselves as well.' Dame Nia, Labour MP for Llanelli, replied: 'Well, I thank (Ms Owen) for her very kind comments on the issue. 'But even today, it does not mean that there are no challenges. Coming out, particularly to family or classmates is still challenging and scary, with all the worry of how that might be perceived, and the fear of bullying. 'In 2018, the previous government introduced LGBT+ people into the RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) curriculum. The reality of diverse family types would – in stark contrast to section 28 – be taught as a fact of life in modern Britain.' Concluding her speech, Dame Nia said that 'as part of the LGBT+ community myself' it was a 'privilege' to have opened the debate.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minister says she ‘should have done more' to protect LGBT+ students in the 1980s
An equalities minister has said she 'should have done more' to protect pupils who faced discrimination due to their sexuality during her time as a secondary school teacher. Dame Nia Griffith said she feared losing her job as a teacher in the 1980s if she called out discriminatory language because of legislation at the time which prevented intentional promotion of homosexuality. Dame Nia said: 'I did not protect those pupils who were the object of such comments in the way that they should have been protected. I should have done more.' Speaking in the Commons, Dame Nia, who came out publicly as a lesbian in 2016, said coming out to family or classmates is still 'challenging and scary' for those in the LGBT+ community. Opening a debate on LGBT+ history month, she said: 'Before entering into politics, I was by profession a comprehensive school teacher. 'But back in the 80s, section 28 – introduced into law by the then-Conservative government – banned the promotion of homosexuality or the teaching, in any maintained school, of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. 'In the classroom, if a pupil was verbally being hateful or discriminatory towards one of their peers, I did not want it to go unchallenged but found myself just telling them not to use such language, or risk upsetting someone. 'Anything more explicit could potentially be promoting homosexuality, and breaking the law, and risked me losing my job. 'I did not protect those pupils who were the object of such comments in the way that they should have been protected. I should have done more. 'Today, the notion that an LGBT+ family is pretend is absurd to most. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to find same-sex parents picking up their children from school.' Intervening, Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North) said: 'I appreciate the minister's apology, but to have taken such a stance would have meant she would have lost her job. 'And I think although we can always reflect, and always do better in hindsight, we have to be kind to ourselves and give ourselves the space to be able to see that grace in ourselves as well.' Dame Nia, Labour MP for Llanelli, replied: 'Well, I thank (Ms Owen) for her very kind comments on the issue. 'But even today, it does not mean that there are no challenges. Coming out, particularly to family or classmates is still challenging and scary, with all the worry of how that might be perceived, and the fear of bullying. 'In 2018, the previous government introduced LGBT+ people into the RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) curriculum. The reality of diverse family types would – in stark contrast to section 28 – be taught as a fact of life in modern Britain.' Concluding her speech, Dame Nia said that 'as part of the LGBT+ community myself' it was a 'privilege' to have opened the debate.
