Senedd Member defends cross-border support bubble

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Islwyn Senedd Member Rhianon Passmore has defended her actions after a national newspaper implied she had broken lockdown rules.

The Sun newspaper has criticised the Labour MS for staying with her partner, who lives around 60 miles away in Wiltshire.

However, Ms Passmore has confirmed she is in a single parent support bubble with her partner – which is within the rules.

Ms Passmore said: “As a single parent household, I have formed a support bubble with my long-term partner. I do not believe I have acted outside of the guidance set out by the Welsh and UK Governments.

“Support bubbles were introduced for single parents and single people to help overcome loneliness.

“Many have formed bubbles with people who we love and miss; in my case this is my long-term partner.

“I am grateful that this rule was put in place, so we are not alone. I would urge residents in Islwyn who are on their own to consider forming a support bubble, in line with Welsh Government guidance, as loneliness can be really dangerous.

“I would also thank them for the way they have reacted to the challenges of the last year.”

Welsh Government guidance states: “If you are an adult living alone or are in a household with a single responsible adult, you can form a support bubble with one other household.

“This will allow you to spend time with the people in that household as if you lived with them.”

Who can form a support bubble?

Any household that meets one of the following criteria is able to form a support bubble:

• Households where one adult lives alone
• Households where one adult lives with any number of children under the age of 18
• Households where more than one adult lives, but one adult has caring responsibilities for all of the other adults in the home

Wales is currently under Alert level 4 restrictions, and has been since December.

However, there are no rules under Alert level 4 which specify a support bubble has to be with someone local. People who are currently allowed to form a support bubble are able to do so with households across the UK.