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Haverfordwest: Over 150 people at anti-Tory rally in Castle Square

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PEMBROKESHIRE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY and Momentum West Wales held a rally on Saturday (Nov 16) on Castle Square, Haverfordwest which was themed ‘UnseatStephen Crabb The Sequel’ – following on from a similar rally last year. The plan, say organisers, was to raise awareness of the damage that has been done to society under ten years of Tory austerity and cuts and to ultimately Unseat both Stephen Crabb and Simon Hart at the General Election next month.  There is a similar rally planned to take place on Guildhall Square, Carmarthen on Sunday (Nov 24) and organisers say that the Tory Free Zone Campaign is “already taking off and gaining much traction and support around the two counties.” The rally on Saturday was attended by around 150 people, and featured speakers from a wide variety of campaign groups and unions.  

Protesters criticised Stephen Crabb, who tweeted on the day of the rally inferring that ‘Labour’ had bussed people in for the event.  

Jim Scott, Convener of Pembrokeshire People’s Assembly commented: “Stephen should check his facts before making false claims about the events we are putting to Unseat him, It’s encouraging to know that he’s’rattled’ by what we are doing here, and of course he will be very rattled, as his 314 vote margin is likely to be lost altogether on December 12 so he must be very nervous in the knowledge that he’s likely to lose his seat. However, Labour were not the organisers of the event and didn’t ‘bus’ anyone in. A handful of people came from Swansea to support the rally, two of whom were official speakers for the rally, when you think about it though. this is more of an indictment on Crabb’s record as an MP. The very fact he is vehemently disliked by so many people in West Wales that some are willing to travel from s far as Swansea says far more about ‘him’ and his Party of austerity than it does about ‘us’, but then we wouldn’t expect Stephen to understand the concept of people supporting each other in struggle, that would be anathema to his thinking and his Party of the super-rich! ” Stevie Jones, Secretary for Momentum West Wales said before the tally: “In 2017, the Unseat Campaign, working together with activists across the People’s Assembly and broader left levelled the biggest rally against neighbouring Tory Stephen Crabb since the Suffragettes came to West Wales!  Labour are rising hour by hour in the polls at a rate that is now unstoppable.

“Simon Hart’s majority stands at just 3,110, and Labour gained a massive 5,089votes in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in the last election. We knowwe can unseat him on 12th December and this starts with starts with peopletalking in their workplaces, around kitchen tables, online and to friends,family to get the message out there that Labour can and will win.

“But that’s not where it ends.  “Momentum, who started a mass canvassing movement so huge that it won6,865 new votes with an epic 150-person door-knocking team to unseat Byron Davies in the Gower for Labour in 2017, has been growing in West Wales since2017, and we are ready.”

Berry Daines who was the Green Party candidate who stood down in order to back Marc Tierney said:”I was pleased to support the Unseat Crabb rally in Haverfordwest. Pembrokeshire has parliamentary representatives who choose to vote against the interests and well-being of their constituents. It was good to spend the afternoon with friends who are looking forward to voting for candidates who are willing to consider far greener policies.” Cerith Griffiths – Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Executive Council Member for Wales said: “I don’t think it can be understated how important this rally was given we’re about a month away from one of the most pivotal elections of our time. In terms of the fire & rescue service and during this decade or so of austerity, we’ve seen 10’s of fire stations close, dozens of fire appliances removed from service and we see 12,000 fewer firefighters keeping us safe day and night. Statistics released earlier this week show that the number of fires we attend has increased and the number of people dying from fire has also increased. Investment is desperately needed in the fire & rescue service and we simply cannot afford another five years of Tory ideology.’

Nimisha Trivedi – Stand Up to Racism Wales said: “It was important tosupport the rally as during this election, anti-immigration and anti-migrant policies are going to be pushed by the government and others to continue pushing their hostile racist agenda.  “It is crucial that all anti racists challenge this and defend the right of refugees, migrants and freedom of movement. Matthew Shepherd – Communications Officer for Swansea Council Unison said:“I supported this inspiring event in a personal capacity because all workers in the public and private sector have been hammered by the Tories. We need strong and fighting unions to keep our rights – and a radical Labour government to roll back the attacks on our lives inflicted by Tory austerity. A great event and let’s make Wales Tory-free!” Moira Jenkins – Pembrokeshire WASPI said: “It was inspiring and humbling to represent Pembrokeshire WASPI and be part of such an amazing event that brought the community together with a common goal.  

Philippa Thompson, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire, who spoke at the rally added: “I believe in equality,fairness and social justice.Austerity – the cuts to our public services – has been a political choice and many people here in this Pembrokeshire have faced hardship because of this Tory choice. Families, working families, should not need to rely on foodbanks – local charities to an amazing job helping people in incredibly difficult circumstances. “I’ve met families whose lives have been put under intolerable stress through the process around payments to people unable to work because of illness or disability. It’s been reported in the news only recently that four in five appeals in Wales against UK Tory Government decisions to deny people disability benefits succeeded. What an inhumane system that is. “The Welsh budget has been consistently cut by the Tories. That impacts on the levers available to the Welsh Government to invest in our public services. I’m standing for the Labour Party because I believe a Labour Government will invest in our country to bring about real change”.

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Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost

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RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.

The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.

There is a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”

SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION

As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.

Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.

“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”

ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS

An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.

“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.

The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”

GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES

The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.

The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.

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Milford Haven man admits to downloading indecent images of children

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A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after admitting to downloading over 1,000 indecent images and videos of children, including highly explicit content involving young children. Gareth MacDonald, now 23, appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos across various devices.

The court heard that police visited MacDonald’s home, which was the scene of protests after his arrest, last year following intelligence suggesting that child abuse images had been accessed there.

There were protests outside MacDonald’s house in September 2024 (Pic: Herald)

Officers spoke with MacDonald’s mother at the door before entering to conduct a search.

During the operation, two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives were seized.

MacDonald initially spoke to one of the officers privately, admitting to downloading the images and saying, “It’s me.” Later, in formal interviews, he revealed that he had grown “bored with legal pornography” roughly a year earlier, knowing that what he was doing was illegal but continuing regardless.

Prosecutor Emily Bennett informed the court that MacDonald’s devices held 15 Category A images, the most severe classification, 26 Category B images, and 960 Category C images. Some content depicted children as young as nine, and the most serious material involved pre-teen children in distressing situations.

Bennett also noted that MacDonald had briefly joined an online group where members self-identified as paedophiles, although he left without sharing any material. Cleaning software was also found on his devices.

Defense counsel Dan Griffiths acknowledged that MacDonald’s actions had crossed the custodial threshold, but argued that there was “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He highlighted MacDonald’s cooperation with police and his willingness to comply with rehabilitation programmes.

Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the sentencing, addressed MacDonald, saying, “For some considerable time, you have accessed this kind of imagery, fully aware of the harm it represents.” He acknowledged that MacDonald largely isolated himself and stayed at home, factors he considered in the sentencing.

MacDonald was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and participate in the Horizon programme. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.

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Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home

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A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.

Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).

In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.

PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”

This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.

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