Pushing benefits of investing in island
YNYS Môn has encountered many economic hurdles and challenges over the past three decades; businesses which provided our young people with employment opportunities have been lost.
When I travel around the island and speak to young people they tell me that they want to have good quality jobs, own their own homes and stay in their community. Keeping our communities together is the best way to protect the Welsh language and our unique island culture.
I am committed to fighting for jobs, skilled employment and investment on Anglesey. This island has seen decades of under investment and neglect and I am doing all I can to reverse this.
Since my election I have spoken vociferously about the benefits of investing in Anglesey and the economic and social effects that we can enjoy as a result of better job and training opportunities.
Since December, I have mentioned Ynys Môn in the Chamber in of the House of Commons more than 165 times, attended countless committees, meetings and events and many private meetings with Ministers from Government departments including the Treasury, BEIS (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the MOD (Ministry of Defence).
Each time I am pushing for the needs of the island to be discussed whether it is Anglesey as ‘Energy island’, Holyhead as a Freeport, protecting jobs at RAF Valley or promoting our farming community. I want Anglesey to be at the heart of the Governments new levelling up agenda.
One of our key levelling up opportunities is Wylfa Newydd. I know how disappointing it was when Hitachi withdrew in Sep
tember. Following that announcement, I worked with Horizon Nuclear Power to get the Development Consent Order delayed. Horizon is still in talks with interested par
ties and I remain hopeful that Horizon will secure a new future for the site. This week in Prime Ministers Questions I asked the Prime Minister ‘Will the Prime Minister confirm to
me and the people of Ynys Môn that he is 100% behind Wylfa Newydd?’.
● This autumn I have worked with local people to initiate events to benefit the island. The first of these has been the launch of the Anglesey chapter of “Make It Your Business” offering networking events, guidance and support for women seeking to set up in business. I aim to hold these events on a regular basis – if you would like to share your journey as an entrepreneur with others or would like to take part – I would love to hear from you.
Next spring will see the launch of an Innovation Jobs Fair at M-Sparc. The Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation – the Rt Hon Amanda Solloway MP – has agreed to open the Fair which I am organising with M-Sparc, Bangor University and Coleg Llandrillo Menai. The Fair will offer hundreds of local people the opportunity to explore new career and training opportunities as well as spotlighting local businesses.
With the start of the academic year I have contacted all the school Heads across the island to wish them, their teams and their students a successful return to school.
As a former maths teacher and mother of three, I can understand the immense challenges our schools have been under these past few months. I know from talking to people around Ynys Môn, that all the schools on the island have worked exceptionally hard to engage and teach local children this year, and that parents and carers have truly appreciated their support. I have offered to visit each school to give a ‘non-party political’ talk; I believe the earlier you engage children in democracy the better they are able to make considered decisions later in life. Please do encourage your Head to reach out to me.
I have written to all the Council, Town and Community Councillors to thank them for the incredible hard work they have put in to support our communities during the Coronavirus crisis – the biggest crisis this country has faced since World War II. I am keen to work with them and have asked them to invite me to their meetings so that I can introduce myself properly, discuss local issues and talk about how I can help them to help you. I have also asked them to distribute my monthly e-newsletter to their constituents so that everyone across Anglesey receives an update as to what their Member of Parliament is doing both here on the island and in Westminster.
● Do you know anyone that is under 18 that would like to design me a Christmas card? Every year Members of Parliament send out hundreds of Christmas cards. I would like my Christmas card to feature a design from a local schoolchild. It can be anything Christmas related and if it has a connection to Anglesey so much the better. This is a great opportunity to get your artwork seen by our Prime Minister and many others. Please send your designs to bethan. davies@ parliament. uk. The winner will be announced by 31st October 2020 and will receive a certificate of thanks, a Parliamentary bear and a framed copy of their card signed by me.
I entered politics to make tomorrow a better day for as many as possible. It is an honour and a privileged to be your Member of Parliament and I am here to serve you, the people of Ynys Môn. Please do get in touch if you need my help or support, if you wish to share an idea to make our island an even better place to live or would like to nominate an Ynys Môn ‘Hidden Hero’. Please contact me via my new website www.virginiacrosbie. co.uk and I and my dedicated team will do all that we can to help.