Joyce Watson MS, Labour Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales

Last month Vaughan Gething became leader of Welsh Labour and our new First Minister of Wales, following Mark Drakeford’s decision to stand down. I have worked closely with Vaughan for many years, and I am looking forward to his exciting plans to build Wales’ future.

This month marks 25 years since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour Government. The minimum hourly rate has now risen to 2/3 of median wages, but there is still much to be done to tackle poverty and inequality.

Many families and carers are struggling with food costs across the Easter holidays. Too many are turning to foodbanks across the county, such as Pembrokeshire Foodbank, Trussel Trust in Narberth, Haverfordwest Foodbank, Patch in Tenby, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest and Pembroke dock, Cardigan Foodbank, and other bodies fighting food poverty.

Supermarkets offering family deals across the Easter holidays include:

Morrisons Cafes offer one free children’s meal when you buy an adult meal over £4.50.

ASDA offer a hot meal and piece of fruit for children under 16 for £1 throughout the year.

Tesco offer a free sandwich, a piece of fruit, two snacks and a drink for kids with an adult food purchase in a Tesco café.

Sainsbury’s offer a £1 kids meal with every adult main meal purchased costing £5.20 or more.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is holding an independent review into its workplace culture, along with the other Welsh fire and rescue services. This follows shocking failings found at the South Wales force, with a ‘toxic’ culture of abuse, and reported bullying and harassment in the North Wales force. Our firefighters do a difficult job under the worst of circumstances, and I hope this review will rebuild confidence and trust in this crucial service, helping it to provide an excellent workplace and service to the public.

While many of us are waiting impatiently for the Prime Minister to call a General Election, we do know that we have Police and Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday 2nd May. If you don’t have a postal vote, for the first time you must now take photo ID when you vote in person.

Accepted forms of ID include a passport or drivers’ licence, most concessionary travel passes, such as an older person or disabled person’s bus pass. You will be able to use expired ID if you are still recognisable from the photo.

If you don’t have one of the accepted forms of ID, you can apply for free ID online at www.voterauthority- certificate. s e r v i c e . gov. u k / . Further details are at https://www. pembrokeshire. gov. uk/ elections- andvoting/elections-2024