Brexit Update Westminster News - February 2019 - Gerald Jones

Westminster News — February 2019
                                Brexit Update
The Brexit uncertainty continues as the Prime Minister
desperately tries to secure support for her deal. It seems her
talk about being willing to listen to other opinions and ideas is
not sincere. There is a growing feeling in Westminster that she
is running down the clock so that the closer we get to 29th
March, Tory MPs desperate to avoid any extension of Article 50
will vote for a version of her deal, even though many of them
have deep reservations.

This is a risky strategy as if a deal isn't agreed, we could well be in no deal territory which as
we know is highly likely to be catastrophic for areas such as ours.

The Commons has voted its opposition to a no deal, however, these votes are not binding
on the Government, they demonstrate an opinion that in normal circumstances, the sitting
Government would take note of but as we are all too aware at present we are not in
normal times.
Labour’s position is that we want the Government to consider changes to the Political
Agreement to provide a permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union which
would provide a common external tariff and an agreement on commercial policy that
includes a UK say on future EU trade deals. We believe that a customs union is necessary to
deliver the frictionless trade that our businesses, workers and consumers need, and is the
only viable way to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.
We are also asking for close alignment with the Single Market, underpinned by shared
institutions and obligations, with clear arrangements for dispute resolution.
An alignment on rights and protections so that UK standards keep pace with standards
across Europe as a minimum, allowing the UK to lead the way.
Clear commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes, including in
areas such as the environment, education, and industrial regulation.
Finally, unambiguous agreements on the detail of future security arrangements, including
access to the European Arrest Warrant and vital shared databases.
Further votes are expected on 27th February.

Campaign to keep DWP jobs local
On Saturday 2nd February, I joined representatives of the PCS Union, Merthyr Trades
Council and Dawn Bowden AM to gather signatures in the Town Centre to halt the closure
of the DWP benefits office in Merthyr Tydfil that could mean over 200 jobs moving from
the town centre. The campaign event was successful in helping to raise awareness and
gathered over 300 signatures. Despite the cold weather, we received a warm reception
from residents, who signed the petition against the transfer of the work and jobs to a new
site in Treforest.
The current Ty Bethesda building is one of five Welsh DWP offices in South Wales that are
currently facing closure along with others in Caerphilly, Cwmbran, Newport and Gabalfa.
DWP want to relocate the work from all these sites to a newly-built hub in Treforest.
Around 1,700 posts could be moved to the new site.
The proposal by the Tory Government to relocate and centralise DWP jobs away from
town centres like Merthyr Tydfil is short sighted and will have a negative impact on our
town, staff at the Benefits Centre and local residents. It was clear when I questioned the
DWP Minister in Parliament, he
had little knowledge of the impact
this proposed move would have in
terms of our town centre and
particularly travel difficulties for
staff. I will continue to offer my full
support to PCS Union in the fight
to keep these jobs in our area.

      Government Support to Police is a real terms cut
Last week I raised concerns and voted against the Police Grant Settlement. The
Government stated that the settlement provides Police Forces across Wales and England
with an additional £970million. However, it is clear that the settlement works out as a real
terms cut.
The £970million is made up of £509million from increased Council tax so is not
Government funding at all, it will come from local council tax payers who have already
paid for the Police through their income tax. The £970million also includes £142million to
pay increase Police pension adjustments, changes that the Government introduced and
£143million for national priorities such as counter terrorism which is held centrally and
not given to local police forces at all.

Upcoming Door Knocking Sessions

Over the next few weeks, I will be out door knocking with Dawn Bowden
 AM and other colleagues across the constituency. If you would like to
       come along to any of the sessions, please do get I touch.

              Friday 15th February 3.30pm – 5.30pm
                     Edwardsville, Treharris Ward
              Saturday 2nd March 10.30am – 12.30pm
                             Park Ward
                Friday 15th March 3.30pm – 5.30pm
                           Pontlottyn Ward

Campaign to save free TV License
The BBC has been consulting on the future of the
free TV licenses for over 75s.
The Tory Government has transferred
responsibility to the BBC when the current
scheme ends in June 2020.
It is clear that if a decision is taken to scrap the
scheme that Labour introduced in 2003, this
would be a huge blow to many low income
pension households and many older residents
who rely on the television for companionship.
The government has already confirmed the cost of
a licence is to rise from £150.50 a year to £154.50
from April.
Last month, the charity Age UK warned that scrapping the free TV licence for over-75s
could push 50,000 older people into relative poverty. Moving the responsibility to the BBC
effectively delivers a £745m “windfall” to the government.
This Government has broken its manifesto promise to keep free TV licences until 2022, and
now millions of elderly people are facing losing their free TV licences. Government should
be protecting pensioners rathe than creating a financial burden.
This is yet another Tory policy that punishes pensioners. Through scrapping free TV
licences and changing pension credit alone, this Government would offload almost a
billion pounds of costs onto our oldest citizens in a single year.
Labour is calling on the Government to urgently reconsider and save free TV licences for
over-75s.

   DWP not clear in Support for our Post Offices…..
I used Business Questions this week to raise a concern about the future of local Post
Offices. The DWP is currently writing to older people asking them to consider having
pensions paid into a bank account. The letter gives options but does not give the option of
continuing to use the Post Office. When challenged over the phone, the DWP confirm that
using the Post Office is in fact an option but does not give that option in the letters being
circulated.
The Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom was unclear on the issue so taking her
suggestion, I will seek a short debate on the issue. It is vital that DWP and other
Government Departments support our Post Offices so they remain as viable as possible to
face the future.

Calendar of Events & Engagements
       January
22nd   •   Meeting in Westminster with Julian Williams, Chief Constable, Gwent Police & Jeff Cuthbert,
           Police & Crime Commissioner.
24th   •   Meeting with Inspector Andy O’Keefe, Gwent Police and Dawn Bowden AM

25th   •   Meeting with Kim Colebrook, Aneurin Bevan Destination Strategy

27th   •   Holocaust Memorial Day Service at St David’s Church, Merthyr Tydfil

28th   •   Visit to Lloyds Bank new mobile branch, Library Car Park, Rhymney with Dawn Bowden AM &
           Cllrs Carl Cuss & Gaynor Oliver.

       February
2nd    •   Town Centre Campaigning with Dawn Bowden AM, PCS & Merthyr Trades Council
       •   Official Launch of Trouville Art Exhibition by local artists at Cyfarthfa Castle
4th    •   Meeting with Judith Pagett CEO Aneurin Bevan Health Board & Dr Chris O’Connor

7th    •   Cyfarthfa Branch Ward Meeting—Heolgerrig

8th    •   Community Stars Presentation with Dawn Bowden AM
       •   Advice Surgeries at Galon Uchaf & Georgetown
       •   Meeting with Christina Harrhy, Interim CEO Caerphilly CBC
       •   Womens Archive Wales Event at the Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil
15th   •   Meeting with Residents & Wales & West Housing at Ty Gwaunfarren, Gurnos
       •   Advice Surgeries at Tirphil & Pontlottyn
       •   Campaigning in Edwardsville with Dawn Bowden AM & local Councillors.

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