We must all build on Sir David’s legacy
RYDYM i gyd wedi cael sioc a thristwch mawr o clwad am llofruddiaeth ffrind a cydweithiwr Sir David Amess, fu farw Sir David yn gwneud swydd yr oedd yn ei garu ac ar ôl bron i bedwar degawd o wasanaeth, ni wanhaodd ei ymrwymiad erioed - i gwasanaethu pobol Southend West ger Essex.
E have all been shocked and deeply saddened by the murder of my colleague and friend Sir David Amess. Sir David died while doing a job that he loved and to which, after nearly four decades of service, his commitment had never waned – serving the people of Southend West in Essex.
The tributes to Sir David that we heard in Parliament last Monday, along with the visible consternation and outpouring of grief in Southend, portray the warmth and respect with which he was regarded by those with whom he served and by those he represented.
His death is a huge loss to Parliament, to politics, to his constituents and to his country. Most of all, his death is a loss to his family. Sir David leaves behind his beloved wife and five children.
My thoughts and prayers are with them. They are also with his office team. They will be grieving for not just a boss but also for a dear friend.
It is now incumbent on us all now more than ever, no matter our political differences, to build on Sir David’s legacy. He had come to symbolise qualities that have become increasingly rare in our politics – kindness, respect and compassion. These are attributes that we must restore to our political discourse and political debates. In doing so, we will honour his memory and we can restore faith in our politics to millions of people throughout our country.
I would like to use this opportunity to quote the poignant words of Jo Cox, the Labour Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen who was murdered five years ago while meeting with her constituents: “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”
If we abide to the sentiments of these words, and by the example of Sir David Amess, I know that the cloud of hatred and division that has poisoned our politics for too long can be lifted.
We now understand that this
Wcowardly attack against an unarmed individual trying to help his constituents was not just an attack on an individual – it was a terrorist attack upon our democracy and against our freedoms.
As Gordon Brown so rightly said after it became clear that this was a terrorist attack: “this was an attack on our democracy, so the answer cannot be less democracy.”
For our precious democracy to flourish it is vital that elected representatives are accessible by the people that they serve. As your Member of Parliament, the absolute highlight of my job is returning home to our beautiful island each week and meeting with people, businesses and community groups across Anglesey.
Meeting and speaking with so many people is enjoyable but, for me, it is also invaluable as it helps me to learn so much about the issues and challenges that you face and of the ideas that you have to make our island an even better place to live and work.
It is only right that security is reviewed – I must also think about my team, whose welfare and safety is my priority – but I will not let this attack stop me from being accessible to you, the people of Ynys Môn who I am honoured day in and day out to represent.
I will still be meeting at every opportunity with as many of you as possible and I will still be holding in person MP surgeries so that I can help those most in need. And, of course, I will be using every opportunity that I can to practise my Welsh.
Last week the Government set out its Net Zero Strategy and plan to create 440,000 jobs on the journey to decarbonising our economy. On Tuesday, speaking in Parliament during the Minister’s Statement on the Net Zero Strategy, I asked Greg Hands, the Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy if he could “reassure my Ynys Môn constituents that they will benefit from the 440,000 net zero jobs being created by 2030 and the £90 billion of private investment? Will he accept my invitation to visit Wylfa Newydd and see first hand why the Prime Minister is such a fervent supporter?”
I warmly welcomed his response, in which he said “I thank my Honourable Friend, who is a tireless advocate for Ynys Môn, particularly on the economy and jobs. Of course, Ynys Môn, the whole of Wales and north Wales will benefit from the new green jobs that this net zero strategy will help to foster.
“The new money announced for the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund is for optionality for the future, so that we can make future decisions based on good information on nuclear.
“Clearly that includes potential for sites such as Wylfa Newydd.”
The Future Nuclear Enabling Fund – along with the other commitments that the Government is making to new nuclear – will be hugely important to us here on Anglesey. This £120m fund will provide targeted support for the future nuclear market with more details to be announced shortly.
Meanwhile the £385m Advanced Nuclear Fund is supporting the design of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the Government also announced its intention to bring at least one large scale plant to the point of a final investment decision by the end of this parliament.
These funds and the Government’s commitment represent a real opportunity to make progress on delivering Wylfa Newydd and creating the high skilled, well paid and secure jobs that we so desperately need here on the island.
I am in regular discussions with Bechtel and Rolls-Royce and their ambition to invest in developing nuclear capacity at Wylfa Newydd is very real.
I was delighted to hear the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, say on Tuesday that “there is now a better than reasonable chance” that Wylfa will get a new nuclear power plant and I wish to assure you that my commitment to securing Wylfa Newydd is stronger than ever.
As always, please remember that if you have any concerns or problems, my dedicated team and I are here to help. If you need my help you can contact me in any of the following ways:
visit 19 Stanley Street, Holyhead
● phone 01407 644 645
● email virginia.crosbie.mp@ parliament.uk
visit my website www.virginiacrosbie.co.uk
Many of your neighbours receive my free monthly e-newsletter. To receive your personal copy please sign up here: https://virginiacrosbie. co.uk/newsletter/
Fel bob amser, cofiwch os oes gennych unrhyw bryderon neu problemau, mae fy tîm ymroddedig a finnau yma i helpu. Os bydd angen fy help arnoch chi, gallwch chi gysylltu â mi drwy’r dulliau canlynol:
ymweld â 19 Caergybi
● ffonio 01407 644 645
● e-bostio virginia.crosbie. mp@parliament.uk
edrych ar fy ngwefan www. virginiacrosbie.co.uk.
Mae llawer o’ch cymdogion yn derbyn fy e-gylchlythyr misol am ddim, I dderbyn eich copi personol, cofrestrwch yma: https://virginiacrosbie. co.uk/newsletter/
Stryd
Stanley,