Autumn 2020

12th October, 2020

Nick's News

Autumn 2020

My Autumn

This has been an extremely strange few months in so many ways, and I hope everyone continues to keep safe in these unprecedented times.

As children are now back in school, I want to thank all staff who have worked tirelessly to make that happen as safely as possible. I know how difficult this time has been for many of our young people and I hope it will be a great positive for children to see teachers and friends.

The work done in Torfaen in response to the pandemic by public service workers, other key workers and volunteers has been inspirational and has really held our community together at a difficult time. I also want to pay tribute to the work done by our Councillors, and our MS Lynne, on helping the people of Torfaen.

With the renewed restrictions, I know this is not an easy time, but thank you to everyone taking care to follow the guidelines, social distancing, wearing masks where needed and washing hands, in order to keep one and another safe.

If there's ever an issue I can help you with as a constituent, or something that you'd like to raise with me, you can contact me via email at nick.thomassymonds.mo@parliament.uk and I will do my best to help.

Best wishes,

Nick

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Coronavirus - local restrictions

Thank you to all those working locally to try to keep people safe. You’ll no doubt have seen the local restrictions introduced in Torfaen and across much of South Wales after a rise in the number of covid-19 cases.

I know it’s not easy and sometimes inconvenient or upsetting not to be able to see people or go places as we usually would, but please take care and follow the guidance to keep yourself and those closest to you safe.

I welcomed the opening of a new test centre locally and would advise people to call the special hotline on 0300 30 31 222 if you need a coronavirus test.

I would also like to commend the success of Wales’ tracing system, which has regularly delivered figures above 90% of positive cases being reached - far ahead of England’s system. Unlike the English system, it is run by public service workers from local government and health, rather than by a private company. Thank you to all those who have played a part in its formation.

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My role as Shadow Home Secretary – compassion and competence in the fight against crime

Party conference season has certainly been different this year, with Labour’s annual conference replaced by a series of online sessions. So albeit virtually, I was still delighted to be able to make my first Conference speech in my role as Shadow Home Secretary.

In the speech, I paid tribute to the key workers throughout the pandemic who are putting themselves at risk to help others. I was also able to reflect on the past achievements of former Labour Governments, namely the creation of the welfare state, the NHS, and the Equal Pay Act.

My full speech can be found here: https://labour.org.uk/press/full-text-of-nick-thomas-symonds-speech-to-labour-connected/.

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How can we create safer communities?

I was delighted to join a number of colleagues including Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy and Deputy London Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, to discuss how a Labour Government can create safer communities. The Tory Government are clearly failing to tackle crime with 21,000 police officers cut, and with the budgets for key preventative and early intervention measures slashed.

In recent interviews and contributions in the House of Commons, I have also stressed that the Government need to get to grips with the issue of increasing violent crime.

I was also able to stress the message that crime is a progressive issue, and my approach to law and order will be “compassion and competence”. There is a need to look at preventing crime, reversing the closure of youth clubs and mental health support services.

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Emergency Services Day - 9/09

Marking Emergency Services Day gave me an opportunity to pay thanks to all emergency service workers for their amazing work, not just throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but every single day. It is a timely reminder that they should get the support and pay their work deserves.

Sgt Matiu Ratana

I also paid tribute to Sgt Matiu Ratana in the House of Commons and visited Croydon to lay a tribute.

We should remember his courage and decades of service keeping us safe, and dedicate ourselves to doing everything we can to prevent this happening to other officers.

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Commemorating VJ Day

I attended the commemoration service for the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the Second World War in the far east.

Marking this Anniversary of VJ Day in Torfaen gave us an opportunity to pay tribute and to remember those who sacrificed so much to give us our freedoms.

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Delivering Masks and Visors to Plas-Y-Garn

I was delighted to join the local Unite branch in delivering masks and visors to the workers at Plas-Y-Garn care home made in the Bridgend Ford factory.

Care workers have played a vital role throughout the coronavirus pandemic looking after the elderly and vulnerable, and this gave me the chance to thank them for the fantastic work they have done.

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Copyright © *2020* *Nick Thomas-Symonds MP*, All rights reserved.

Our address is:
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP
Member of Parliament for Torfaen
73 Upper Trosnant Street
Pontypool
Torfaen
NP4 8AU

nick.thomassymonds.mp@parliament.uk