THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have unveiled their new shadow cabinet following the Senedd election on Thursday (May 7).

Party leader Darren Millar MS said the new team would “hold Wales’ new Plaid Cymru Government to account” while seeking to act as a “constructive opposition” in the Senedd.

Mr Millar said: “I am proud to unveil my new Welsh Conservative team in the Senedd.

“The team brings together a wealth of talent and experience. It will hold Wales’ new Plaid Cymru Government to account and work tirelessly for the people of Wales, speaking up on the issues that matter.

“We will be a constructive opposition party in the Senedd, seeking to work with others, where possible, to effect positive change across the nation.

“That will include continuing to make the case for lower taxes, an end to wasteful spending, and offering solutions to fix our public services.”

Under the appointments, Darren Millar remains leader of the Welsh Conservatives and also becomes Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans.

Paul Davies MS has been named Deputy Leader, Shadow Trefnydd, Chief Whip and Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language, Culture, Tourism and Sport.

Natasha Asghar MS becomes Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, while Andrew RT Davies MS takes on the farming and environment brief.

Janet Finch-Saunders MS has been appointed Shadow Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy.

Peter Fox MS becomes Shadow Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities, while Sam Rowlands MS has been named Policy Director and Shadow Minister for Education, Families and the Constitution.

TESSA HODGSON has been elected as the new leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, becoming the first woman to hold the role.

Cllr Hodgson, who represents Lamphey, was chosen at the council’s annual general meeting on Friday (May 15). She succeeds Cllr Jon Harvey, who did not seek re-election as leader.

Following her election, Cllr Hodgson said: “It is a great honour to have been elected leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

“I thank Cllrs Tinley and Clements for also putting themselves forward and Cllrs Alderman and Williams for proposing and seconding me.

“It is an important moment for the council to elect the first woman to this position, but now the hard work begins.

“I am prepared to work with everyone across the chamber for the benefit of every resident and community of Pembrokeshire, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Cllr Hodgson was first elected in 2012 and is not affiliated to any group on the council.

She previously served as Cabinet Member for Social Services and Safeguarding from 2017, and most recently held the adult social care and safeguarding portfolio.

Before entering local government, Cllr Hodgson worked in marketing and business and ran several hospitality and tourism enterprises.

She is expected to announce her Cabinet shortly.

CHIP SHOP owners in Pembrokeshire say soaring costs are forcing up prices, changing customer habits, and putting pressure on young staff facing questions from customers.

Speaking to the BBC this week, Rhys McLoughlin, co-owner of Môr Ffres in Dinas Cross, said he is installing self-service tills partly to protect staff from being put on the spot over rising prices.

Mr McLoughlin said cod, once his biggest seller, is being overtaken by cheaper options such as chicken chunks as families look for ways to keep costs down.

Prices keep rising

He said: “There are lots of questions being asked. Incoming prices are going up and up.

“We have no control over that, so either we work for no money, or we follow the price increase and pass it on.”

The average price of takeaway fish and chips rose to £11.17 in March, compared with £6.48 in 2019.

Mr McLoughlin warned that cod prices could rise further by September, saying: “If these prices continue to go up, who’s going to buy fish and chips for £21? Who can afford that?”

Staff under pressure

He said the planned digital kiosks would help manage queues in the small shop during the busy summer season, but would also reduce the pressure on young staff.

Mr McLoughlin said: “We have got young staff working here and sometimes this is their first stepping stone out of school.

“It’s no fun for a boy or girl to come to work to be asked pretty abrupt questions on the spot with 20 people in the chip shop.

“We have actually lost a few members of staff through that.”

Seaside favourite

In Saundersfoot, Sy Crockford, of Marina Fish & Chips, said keeping the traditional seaside meal affordable had become increasingly difficult.

He said cod alone had risen by around 50 per cent, adding: “One thing we don’t want to do is out-price fish and chips.

“It’s nostalgia, it’s romance, to come to the beach and have fish and chips. We definitely don’t want to outprice.”

Mr Crockford said cod and haddock were becoming “a luxury, not a necessity”, and suggested more sustainable and affordable fish options may become more common on chip shop menus.

Rural shops hit

At Cegin-24 in Crymych, owner Sioned Phillips said the price of a box of cod had risen from around £36 to between £50 and £60.

She said: “When I opened, it was £6.95 for a piece of cod. I’ve had to raise it to £9, and that’s being quite reasonable.

“If I wanted to make a normal amount of profit, it should be about £11 or £12 for a piece of cod.

“For me, in such a rural community area, to justify charging elderly people and local people so much for a piece of cod is absolutely ridiculous.”

Ms Phillips said some customers were still sticking with cod despite cheaper alternatives being offered, but were cutting back elsewhere by sharing portions of chips.

The National Federation of Fish Friers said cod price rises were linked to reduced quotas in the Barents Sea, sanctions on Russian fish, and wider cost pressures.

President Andrew Crook said many customers understood fish was a premium protein, but added that higher prices had affected visit frequency and footfall in many shops.