A SPECIAL election hustings focusing on the future of support for people with learning disabilities will take place in north Pembrokeshire next month.

Clynfyw Care Farm in Abercych will host the event on Wednesday (Apr 22), bringing together Senedd election candidates from several political parties to answer questions from people directly involved in health and social care.

Candidates from the Green Party, Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and Labour have already confirmed they will attend, while responses are still awaited from other candidates standing in the election scheduled for May 7. hustings press release 9.3.26

The event aims to give people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and support workers the opportunity to ask candidates what they plan to do to improve services and support over the next Senedd term.

Jim Bowen, Registered Manager at Clynfyw Care Farm, said the event comes at a time when many people working in social care feel under increasing pressure.

“With social care cuts forever on the agenda, we welcome the opportunity to learn whether our next Senedd representatives will have our best interests at heart,” he said. “Are we even on their agenda?”

Stephen Galloway, a participant representative at the care farm, said people with learning disabilities want to know how politicians plan to protect opportunities for independence.

“It’s important we have a chance to learn independent living skills, but the cuts are taking away our freedom,” he said. “We want to know how they are planning to change this.”

Organisers say the hustings will also give social workers and unpaid carers the chance to share their experiences and explain what support they need in order to continue providing services in rural communities.

Jim Bowen added that the role of the care sector had been widely recognised during the pandemic but many workers now feel undervalued.

“During the pandemic we were termed ‘essential workers’. Now we struggle to survive on minimum wage and ever-increasing costs,” he said. “We were essential then, but now we are not. What has changed?”

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care, Tessa Hodgson, will introduce the event, which organisers say is likely to feature challenging questions based on real-life experiences.

The hustings will run from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, with limited places available. Advance booking is required and the event will be recorded, with fact-checked audio clips later shared on the Clynfyw Care Farm Facebook page.

POLICE appeal for witnesses after man reportedly attacked by group of eight men near Llanddarog junction

Local officers are investigating an alleged assault that took place on the A48 westbound at the Llanddarog junction, before the Nantycaws turn-off, at around 2:30pm on Saturday (Mar 7).

The incident is reported to have involved eight men who had parked Harley-Davidson motorcycles in a lay-by. The group allegedly assaulted a man who was travelling in a car.

The victim sustained moderate injuries and their vehicle was also damaged during the incident.

Anyone with information, or with private CCTV or dashcam footage showing suspicious activity in the area at the time, is asked to contact police in one of the following ways:

Online: https://orlo.uk/KRjzb
Email: [email protected]
Call: 101

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Please quote reference: DP-20260307-227.

Proposed ‘earned settlement’ system expected to overhaul long-standing five-year route to permanent residence

THOUSANDS of migrants living and working in the UK could face significantly longer waits to gain permanent residency under sweeping immigration reforms expected to take effect from April 2026.

The proposed changes would replace the current five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) with a new system described as “earned settlement”, which could see some migrants waiting as long as 15 years before qualifying for permanent residence.

Under the present rules, many migrants on skilled worker or family visas can apply for settlement after five years of lawful residence in the UK. However, the planned reforms would extend the baseline qualifying period to ten years for most applicants.

The new system would also introduce a points-based contribution model, meaning the time required before settlement could vary depending on factors such as earnings, employment history and English language ability.

In some cases, migrants with high incomes or those working in key public services could qualify more quickly, potentially in as little as three years. Others with lower earnings or irregular employment histories could face a significantly longer route.

Immigration advisers say the changes represent one of the most significant shifts in UK settlement policy in decades.

Helena Sheizon, an immigration expert with Kadmos Immigration, said the reforms mark a move away from a simple time-based system towards one that prioritises economic contribution.

“This reform represents a fundamental shift from a time-based route to permanent residence to one focused on earned contribution,” she said.

“It means that many people already living in the UK on pathways to settlement may face new qualifying conditions and longer waits if they do not meet the new criteria.”

The proposed model would consider a range of factors when determining eligibility for settlement. Higher taxable income over a sustained period could reduce the waiting time, while employment in sectors such as healthcare and education may also count positively.

However, factors such as claiming public funds, previous visa breaches or gaps in employment could extend the qualifying period.

Alongside the settlement reforms, several other changes to immigration rules have already been introduced or are expected to take effect in early 2026.

These include higher English language requirements for several work visa routes, including Skilled Worker visas, and stricter income thresholds linked to both visa eligibility and settlement.

The reforms are expected to have a particular impact on lower-paid migrant workers, including those employed in sectors such as social care and hospitality, where wages may fall below the levels needed to shorten the new settlement timelines.

The changes form part of a broader immigration strategy outlined by the UK Government in a recent policy paper, with a formal Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules expected to be published later this month.

If approved, the new “earned settlement” framework could come into force from April 2026.

Immigration advisers are now urging migrants already living in the UK to review their settlement plans, as those nearing the current five-year threshold may benefit from applying before the new rules take effect.