News

No monopoly of wisdom or compassion, says MP

Published

12 years ago

December 12, 2013

IT’S FUNNY how a spontaneous comment on Facebook can get picked up and played back, but that is what happened to a few words of mine about benefit reform and its impact on Pembrokeshire. And I am glad that it did.

In a thread of comments responding to the local charity PATCH I said that “no Government or Party has a monopoly of wisdom or compassion, and that none were evil either”. I thought no more about it but thanks to the Herald, I am now.

One of the things that I find frustrating about my job are the claims that there is only ever one cause of the nation’s concerns (them) and only one solution (us). If only it were so easy. The reform of the benefit system was largely seen as essential by all parties, but we differed on the detail. For me benefits are there for people in need; for that time when life goes wrong, when you lose your job or your health; for old age or some other unexpected hardship. They should not be a lifestyle choice, or a cosy alternative to work if work is available or possible.

And I think it is right that the way in which benefits are handed out are as fair to the people paying for them (you and me) as they are the recipient. If that means being reassessed from time to time then so be it. This is taxpayers money and billions of pounds of it.

Did you know that if over your lifetime you earn on average £32,000 or less per year you actually take more out of the state than you put in? I didn’t either, nor did I know that 30% of the UK’s income tax comes from just 1% of people paying it. What this means is that every working family is spending a huge proportion of their cash on benefits for other people – we are all happy to do that if we know those benefits are vital for that person’s quality of life.

By reforming the system like this we get other advantages too. Health and social problems, as well as crime can often be associated with a workless environment or extreme poverty. By changing the system to enable more people to get back to work and stay there we take huge pressure off our NHS, Police, and other services. And the numbers really are looking up. We have more jobs on offer in the region, lower unemployment and lower youth unemployment. New figures show that treatment for drug addiction is getting better. And as for housing I see nothing fair in keeping families in overcrowded conditions if their next door neighbour has two empty spare rooms. Surely we owe it those families to make better use of our housing stock?

Nevertheless I recognise one flaw in this otherwise positive picture. How can we apply these ‘one size fits all solutions’ to a nation which is clearly not one size? How can we make assessments as fair for someone with a mental condition as we do for someone with a limited physical one? Or encourage people to opt for a smaller house if no such houses are available?

This is where fairness comes in and where the nucleus of the problem lies. To be honest I think the Work Capability Assessment has fallen well short of expectations, especially for mental health sufferers. I have highlighted this point in Parliament – but I support the overall aims. The spare room subsidy is perfectly fair, but I regret that we did not have a longer transition period for Councils to work within. (It is of interest that in some councils the “discretionary housing fund” – used to help those facing a spare room subsidy cut – is denied to anybody with a Sky subscription or who smokes)

And it is a source of profound concern that anyone should genuinely face a choice of feeding their families or heating their house or flat. But I support the plans to move, by lots of carrot or a tiny bit of stick, people out of a benefit-dependent lifestyle.

Here in Westminster we mix with members of other Parties much more than the press would ever have you believe. I know and respect my opposition colleagues and in the main our differences are not as pronounced as all that. Strange though it may seem, we all strive to make our home areas that little bit better. The idea that there are any sections of society, young or old, rich or poor for whom we have
nothing but hatred or contempt is simply ridiculous.

This is why MP’s should be entirely non-judgmental when it comes to our constituents. You can love us or loathe us, you can vote for ‘us’ or ‘them’ or for no one at all, but in the end we are here to represent you and to use our judgment in doing so. We don’t always get it right, which is why I used those Facebook words in the first place.

Crime

Four arrested in armed police operation across Pembroke Dock

Published

6 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Firearms, drugs and GBH suspects detained as pre-planned raids hit Bush Street and Gordon Street

A MAJOR armed police operation across Pembroke Dock on Friday (Feb 13) has resulted in four arrests, police have confirmed.

Heavily equipped firearms officers, dog units and CID teams carried out a pre-planned operation across Bush Street and Gordon Street, sealing off several roads and entering multiple addresses.

The Herald reported live from the scene as officers moved between locations, first targeting a flat on Bush Street shortly after 11:30am before extending cordons into neighbouring streets and making further arrests near the Jobcentre on Gordon Street.

Residents described a large and highly visible response, with armed officers carrying carbines and ballistic shields and specialist teams guarding doorways while searches were conducted.

Police vehicles blocked both ends of the streets for several hours.

Arrests confirmed

In a statement, Dyfed-Powys Police said the coordinated action involved several departments and led to four people being detained.

Those arrested were:

• A 37-year-old man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm
• A 28-year-old man for failing to appear in court
• A 35-year-old man for failing to comply with a drug treatment and testing order, fraud, possession of a firearm, and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs
• A 32-year-old woman for possession of a bladed article, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, and possession of a firearm

Detective Sergeant Jamie Hughes, of Pembrokeshire CID, told the Herald the police were active proactively to combat criminality in the area. He said: “We would like to thank the community for their support and patience whilst we undertook our operation in Pembroke today.

“I hope it serves as a reminder to those in Pembrokeshire that police will take action against those who intend to commit crime in our county and will deal with offenders robustly and efficiently.”

Streets locked down

The Herald witnessed officers entering properties, deploying dog units and escorting suspects away in handcuffs as enquiries continued.

Access between Bush Street, Gordon Street and surrounding roads was restricted while searches were completed.

Residents said the scale of the response was unlike anything normally seen in the area.

Anyone with concerns is asked to contact police via 101 or through the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

More updates as they come in.

Crime

Killer jailed for life after ‘vicious and sustained’ attack on brother

Published

7 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

West Wales family tell court: “We have lost two sons”

A 34-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for life for murdering his own brother following what a judge described as a “vicious, sustained and seriously out-of-proportion” attack.

Darren Steel, of Swansea, was sentenced today (Friday, Feb 13) at Swansea Crown Court before His Honour Huw Rees, who told him he may never be released from prison.

The court heard the fatal assault followed a dispute linked to drugs, with Steel unleashing a prolonged and repeated attack on his brother.

Passing sentence, Judge Rees said the violence went far beyond any reasonable response.

“This was not a short burst of violence,” he said.

“It was vicious, sustained and seriously out of proportion. The anger you displayed that day — uncontrolled anger — arose from your belief that someone had stolen your drugs.”

Lies to police

The judge said Steel attempted to evade responsibility immediately after the killing, giving officers a false name when arrested.

He later repeated a series of lies in custody, including making what the judge described as a “patently false” allegation involving his former partner.

“I’m sorry to tell you that your performance earlier was out of self-pity, not out of remorse,” Judge Rees told him.

“You have shown no genuine insight into what you have done.”

“Pure evil”

Family members delivered emotional victim impact statements describing the devastating consequences of the killing.

One relative told the court: “I have lost both of my sons, either in death or in prison.”

Susanne, the victim’s aunt, said the family had been living through “a constant nightmare”.

“Throughout both trials, Darren has not shown one glimpse of remorse for what he did to his brother,” she said. “He is vacant. He is pure evil.”

Zoe Steel, the victim’s daughter, said her father’s death had robbed her of future milestones.

“I didn’t just lose my father that day — I lost the man who was meant to walk me down the aisle,” she said.

“Darren has created a massive hole in this family that will never mend. Not once did he even say sorry.

“Dad, the day you died, a part of me died with you.”

Additional offences

The court also sentenced Steel for two further assaults connected to the same incident.

He received three years’ imprisonment for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Julian Samuel and 12 months for assaulting Dawn, his former partner. Those sentences will run concurrently.

Life sentence

For murder, Steel was handed the mandatory life sentence and must serve a minimum of 20 years before he can apply for parole.

Judge Rees warned that release is not guaranteed.

“You may never be released,” he said.

News

Climber dies and two injured in St Govan’s Head fall

Published

7 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Major air and sea rescue launched as coastguard, lifeboat and helicopters scramble to Pembrokeshire cliffs

A PERSON has died and two others have been injured following a climbing incident at St Govan’s Head on the Pembrokeshire coast.

A major multi-agency rescue operation was launched on Thursday afternoon after concerns were raised for the welfare of three climbers near the cliffs.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed one casualty was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

A police spokesman said: “Dyfed-Powys Police were contacted by the ambulance service around 4.25pm, Thursday February 12, reporting concerns for the welfare of three individuals at St Govan’s Head, Pembrokeshire.

“Officers were deployed to the location alongside multiple other agencies.

“Two were taken to hospital for treatment for injuries not believed to be life threatening. Sadly, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The force added the death is not being treated as suspicious and the person’s next of kin have been informed.

Earlier, witnesses reported a significant emergency presence along the coastline, with multiple helicopters seen overhead and the Angle all-weather lifeboat operating offshore.

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said the alarm was first raised at about 4:00pm.

Teams from Fishguard, St Govan’s and Tenby were sent, alongside an HM Coastguard helicopter, an Irish Coastguard helicopter, Wales Air Ambulance and an RNLI lifeboat from RNLI’s Angle station.

St Govan’s Head, within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, is a popular but exposed climbing and walking location known for steep limestone cliffs and strong seas.

Photo caption: Rescue response at St Govan’s Head during Thursday’s incident