‘Something that I will never take for granted’: Ruth Jones MP talks first year serving Islwyn

Ruth Jones is the Labour Member of Parliament for the Newport West and Islwyn constituency.

In the first year since Labour won the general election, I’ve spent as much time as possible visiting residents across Newport West and Islwyn.

As Newport West and Islwyn was announced as a new constituency ahead of the 2024 election, I’ve been focusing my surgery sessions on the Islwyn side, holding extremely productive conversations in areas such as Argoed, Abercarn, and Blackwood.

As well as surgeries, I’ve also been out and about visiting vital community groups, charities, and businesses, and attending other local events. The most recent of which was Mount Pleasant Primary School in Rogerstone. It was wonderful to present awards to the children at the school, who had been recognised by the community council for their schoolwork surrounding British TV.

Reflecting on the past 12 months, I was thrilled to hear the news that around 100 new jobs for residents in Newport West and Islwyn are set to be created at British Airways seat manufacturer, Safran, during a visit to their base in Marshfield.

Job creation is something both UK Labour and Welsh Labour has at the forefront of its mind, highlighted during my visit to Newport’s semiconductor plant with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Deputy First Minister of Wales, Huw Irranca-Davies.

It’s predicted the world-class facility will directly support more than 500 highly skilled jobs thanks to a multi-million-pound investment from the UK Government.

With parliament breaking for summer recess next week, this will give me a greater opportunity and more time to meet with people in the community, tackling important issues, and helping build on existing relationships.

A good example of that work came earlier this year in Peterstone, where I met with Newport City Council Leader Dimitri Batrouni to discuss the amazing community action group who are looking to save the Six Bells Pub.

Looking towards the future for a moment, as well as hosting regular monthly surgeries throughout the summer, we have lots of hard work to do both locally and nationally, and I personally can’t wait to continue moving in the right direction under this Labour government.

A year on from the election and I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all the voters and the Labour members who supported me in the campaign and continue to support me now.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the fact that an ordinary girl like me from Duffryn High School can represent the people of our community in parliament is something that I will never take for granted.

If you’d like me to visit your group or business in Newport West and Islwyn, then please do get in touch via ruth.jones.mp@parliament.uk