News

UKIP Mep in immigration worker controversy

Published

11 years ago

June 16, 2014

NEWLY ELECTED UKIP MEP, Nathan Gill, was at the centre of controversy this week over his family business’s employment of migrant workers.

In his home city of Hull, Nathan Gill was a director of a number of family businesses that provided care services to the Local Authority. Mr Gill confirmed that within those businesses were employed dozens of Eastern European and Filipino workers. Mr Gill explained why these migrant workers were employed, stating, “Because we could not find workers to do the jobs”. He continued by saying, “We had a care home of our own, but mostly our workers were employed on home care contracts we had with Hull City Council and other organisations. The workers were paid more than the minimum wage, but not massively more. The amount we could afford to pay was determined by the amount of money we received from the Council. Working in care is quite tough and we had a big turnover of staff”. Mr Gill also confirmed his company provided “bunkhouse” accommodation for workers, stating that: “The bunkhouses were temporary accommodation we offered to people coming from overseas until they could get something more permanent. We charged £50 a week inclusive of electricity to people who would be earning between Â£200 and £300 a week.” The newly elected Euro MP said the family firm, Burgill Ltd, collapsed when a bank withdrew its borrowing facility after the banking crisis. He continued to defend his position in relation to UKIP policy, saying, “I can see how this could look bad, but it’s a case of ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t”. If we hadn’t employed people from overseas, we’d have been called racist. The fact that we did employ immigrants is leading to charges of hypocrisy. But UKIP has never said it wants to stop all immigration – it wants to limit the numbers.” UKIP leader Nigel Farage, however, stated in an interview with BBC Radio 4 that his party would not allow any migrants, who want to settle to come to the UK, while immigration policy was sorted out, should his party be elected into Government. He went on to make his party”s position clear on the issue, stating, “In terms of immigration, in terms of people coming to settle, I would suggest that for up to a five-year period we don’t have people coming to settle until we sort out the mess.” Nigel Farage has been at the centre of much controversy over whether or not his party are a “racist party” and has also been quoted as saying that mass immigration has, “left Britain an unrecognisable country that many people would not want to leave to their children and grandchildren”, and that the arrival of migrants has some British people feeling that parts of the country are now alien to them, having been “taken over” by foreigners. Earlier this year, on an LBC radio interview, when asked if a group of Romanian men moved in next to you would you be concerned, he responded by saying, “If you lived in London I think you would be”. Indeed, on BBC’s Question Time, in the run up to the European elections, he controversially told the audience how he caught a recent commuter train from London to Kent and had to wait for several stops before he heard English being spoken, referring to the incident as having made him feel “uncomfortable”.

News

Extra funding boost for Saundersfoot Library

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAUNDERSFOOT COMMUNITY COUNCIL has increased its donation to Saundersfoot Library in a bid to help the facility grow and continue providing a valuable service to both residents and visitors.

The library, which is one of the few in Pembrokeshire run almost entirely by volunteers, offers far more than books. Visitors can access photocopying, public computers, local newsletters and magazines — including those produced by the council — as well as food waste bags and a wide range of useful information.

The facility is also being used by a newly-formed Welsh Conversation Group, which meets on Wednesday mornings, and by the Saundersfoot in Bloom group. Plans are in place to extend public opening hours to include Mondays in the near future.

Councillor Alec Cormack, Chair of Saundersfoot Community Council, said: “We’re really keen to support the library in any way we can – it’s such a fantastic asset for the village. We hope this extra funding will help it become even more useful and accessible to everyone.”

The library is run under the leadership of Regency Hall Trustees Averil Upham and Moira Saunders, alongside support from Sam Woolley and Anita Thomas at Pembrokeshire County Council.

Pictured (left to right): Emma Price (Regency Hall Manager), Averil Upham (Regency Hall Trustee managing the library), Cllr Alec Cormack, and Sue Boughton-Thomas (Regency Hall Trustee).

Community

Hedgehogs successfully rehomed at Bluestone National Park Resort

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THIS month, May 2025, Bluestone National Park Resort in Wales has rehomed three juvenile hedgehogs aged one year old as part of the five-star holiday resort’s long-standing partnership with Pembrokeshire Hogspital. Pembrokeshire Hogspital rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs, returning them to the wild in most cases.

Three hedgehogs, twin brothers and a single unrelated female, are now in the process of a soft release at Bluestone National Park Resort. A purpose-built lodge is made for them, gradually they are given more space, the fences are then taken away, and food will continue to be provided for them until eventually they are successfully integrated into the wild.

Marten Lewis, director of sustainability at Bluestone, said: “Over the past five years, Bluestone has been part of several heartwarming hedgehog releases. This spring we were delighted to have rehomed and released more hedgehogs who have received incredible care from Pembrokeshire Hogspital. This one is extra special as we also got a little help from our community, asking Bluestone’s social media followers to name the hedgehogs’ new ‘lodges’; so, the new official lodge names are Tŷ Draenog and Hodge Lodge.”

Bluestone has a longstanding partnership of five years with its local Hogspital, having donated money for an intensive care unit to provide incubators for looking after baby hedgehogs; and serving as an emergency release site, which is a safe place for hedgehogs that are ready to leave the Hogspital but for a variety of reasons can’t be taken back to where they were found.

Find out more about how people and the planet are at the heart of Bluestone National Park Resort and book a stay at bluestonewales.com

News

Public safety warning issued for Ward’s Yard and Criterion Quay

Published

2 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN is urging members of the public to stay away from Ward’s Yard in Milford Haven and Criterion Quay in Pembroke Dock due to ongoing concerns over public safety.

Despite enhanced security measures, individuals continue to access both sites illegally—damaging fencing and ignoring prominent warning signage in the process.

Both Ward’s Yard and Criterion Quay (also known locally as the offshore jetty) are privately owned by the Port of Milford Haven. The Port has warned that any unauthorised entry constitutes trespassing, and incidents involving criminal damage could result in prosecution.

Niall Yeomans, Head of Health, Safety and Security at the Port of Milford Haven, said:
“Safety is our key priority. Members of the public are continuously putting themselves—and our staff—at risk of serious harm by trespassing in these areas.

“Both locations are isolated and lie adjacent to deep water, making them particularly hazardous. There is a serious risk of slips, trips, and falls.”

The Port is asking anyone who witnesses suspicious activity at either site to contact Dyfed-Powys Police immediately by calling 101.