I’m standing as a candidate in Newport West Labour Parliamentary Selection and live and work in Newport.

When I came to live in Newport 19 years ago and since being elected at the 1st attempt in 2012, I have worked hard to support the needs of the people of Newport so that they can enjoy living in a city which is evolving at a pace that few others match.

I started working for Charter with people who seemed to have far less chance of ever enjoying the life most people want because they had severe learning disabilities. I learnt lots from them and started to believe that things could be made better if organisations like social and health services understood them a bit better as individuals. I thought that if the different services worked together they would learn more of what each other knew and give help that was more meaningful and had more lasting benefits. I then took jobs with people with autism, then Newport Mind and understood a lot more of other people’s life experiences. At Gavo, I had a chance to bring charities in on sharing work with the NHS and social services. Without that learning from the people I worked with, I would never have been motivated to work hard with our team at every Labour campaign, and then to stand as a councillor.

Most people in need must have more than one thing ‘fixed’, and that needs organisations working together. I see in my work now that this has been understood by the NHS and councils but we need policies, and even laws for that collaboration and improved services. I contribute as much as I can to this, particularly for health, and services which help provide well-being. Above all, austerity must end.

Wales is the UK area experiencing the most poverty and deprivation. The cuts to council funding have been devastating. Welsh Government can’t make things better without Westminster Government treating all the areas of Britain fairly and ending austerity. The daily anxieties, which the majority of people face from insecure low-paid work, insecure housing and insecure futures, need action now. Only Labour ideals and ideas, led by Jeremy Corbyn, have the vision and policies to turn the country round. A Labour Government will value people and give a greater say to the citizens who really do the work. There can be a redistribution of prosperity through the dispersal of innovation and economic development across Wales, as well as other deprived areas.

It absolutely must be the case……… For the many, not the few.