As 2023 draws to a close, the end of the year offers a time for reflection and an opportunity to look back at the last 12 months. The Coronation of King Charles III in May, a royal spectacle many of us had not witnessed before, will be a joyous event that lives long in the memory. But with ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict at the forefront of many people’s minds, the central message of goodwill towards mankind has never been more important. My overriding hope is for a permanent solution in the Middle East where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace with each other.
I would like to thank all those who will give up time this Christmas to provide food, company and support for others, our dedicated NHS and care staff, and those in the armed forces and emergency services who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Two groups that don’t get the recognition they deserve are prison officers and council staff, especially those responsible for gritting the roads and delivering sandbags if there is any threat of flooding over the winter. These forgotten heroes are ready to step up on our behalf, often at very short notice – so a big shoutout and thank you!
Monmouthshire is a wonderful place to live and I am honoured to call it my home. What a pity the council has decided to scrap free car parking and free bus travel at weekends in December. Perhaps this could be compensated for by allowing free parking every Saturday as a one-off throughout January to get shoppers into the habit of using our fantastic town centre businesses after Christmas. We should be doing everything possible to back smaller retailers during the crucial months of winter trading.
I have enjoyed getting out and about in the constituency in 2023 and with the new boundaries that will be in place at the next general election, it has been great to meet residents and community groups in Caldicot, Magor, Undy, Rogiet and the Severnside area. Parliament may now be in recess, but the constituency office in Usk remains open where my staff and I are on hand to help. If anyone has any queries, complaints or issues they want to raise, do please get in touch.
However you will be spending the festive season, I wish you a very happy Christmas. Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi gyd.
*Published in the Monmouthshire Beacon on 20 December 2023 and Abergavenny Chronicle on 21 December 2023*