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Politics

Simon Hart suspends Matt Hancock’s whip

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SIMON HART MP has called out Matt Hancock after it has been revealed the former health secretary will be appearing in ITV’s Im a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Throughout the Covid pandemic, Mr Hancock was a regular on our screens with his covid briefings, but was closely followed by the alleged cheating scandal, where CCTV footage of Mr Hancock canoodling with a secretary was leaked to the press.

Whilst Mr Hancock no longer holds the role of Health Minister, he is still an active MP for the Conservative party.

Newly appointed Chief Whip, Simon Hart has called for Mr Hancock’s whip to be suspended. 

He said: “Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.”

MP’s who have their whip suspended are in effect expelled from their party and sit in parliament as an independent party until it has been reinstated.

Many other MP’s have joined in with Mr Hart’s sentiments.

Tory MP Tim Loughton said: “I’m completely disappointed and disgusted that he’s put himself and a so-called celebrity career ahead of serving his constituents.”

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Gwynne, took to twitter to heckle Mr Hanocock’s decision. 

He tweeted: “To be fair to Matt Hancock, I’d sooner eat wallaby anus than be a Tory MP too.”

General secretary of the FDA union, Dave Penman, which represents senior civil servants, said: “Oh to have a job where you can decide for yourself you’re taking a month off, abandon your work and responsibilities, get paid shedloads and face little consequence.

“I’m sure he’ll be an inspiration to other public servants.”

News

Wales set to ban supermarket junk food promotions

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New rules could reshape the way snacks are sold

SHOPPERS in Wales may soon find fewer tempting offers on unhealthy snacks as the Welsh government plans to ban the promotion of junk food in supermarkets.

Under the proposed regulations, retailers with 50 or more employees will be prohibited from placing sugary, salty, and fatty foods near tills, store entrances, or at the end of aisles. Similar restrictions will apply online, preventing junk food promotions from appearing on homepage banners, category pages, or checkout screens.

The crackdown, which could come into effect in March 2026 if approved by the Senedd next month, would also spell the end for buy-one-get-one-free deals and free refills on sugary drinks.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles defended the measures, highlighting concerns about childhood obesity. “With nearly a quarter of children in Wales overweight or obese by the time they start school, we must take action to help people make healthier choices,” he said.

Retailers who fail to comply with the new rules could face fines of up to £2,500.

Industry concerns

The proposed legislation is similar to rules introduced in England in 2022 and follows a consultation launched last year. However, the Welsh Retail Consortium has raised concerns, particularly over limits on promotional pricing, arguing that price competition benefits customers.

“Restricting meal deal offers and category promotions could impact affordability for consumers,” a spokesperson warned.

Some smaller businesses, such as independent sweet shops and specialist chocolatiers, will be exempt from the restrictions.

The Welsh government says the new rules are designed to curb impulse buying of unhealthy foods and encourage better dietary habits across the nation. However, with opposition from some in the retail sector, the debate over balancing public health and consumer choice is set to continue.

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Education

Alarming new Estyn report reveals Welsh education in crisis

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WALES’ education system is in turmoil, with an alarming new report from Estyn exposing deep-rooted issues plaguing schools across the country. The watchdog’s findings highlight “stubbornly low” attendance rates, a critical shortage of teachers, and a growing crisis in pupil behaviour, all of which have worsened under Labour’s leadership of the Welsh Government.

The report warns that the continued failure to address these systemic problems is leading to declining educational standards and increasing pressures on teachers, many of whom are leaving the profession due to stress and inadequate support. With concerns mounting, opposition parties have called for urgent action to reverse the decline and restore confidence in Welsh education.

Schools under pressure

Estyn’s findings reveal a bleak picture of the current state of schools in Wales. Pupil absenteeism remains persistently high, with attendance figures showing no significant improvement since the COVID-19 pandemic. This, coupled with recruitment difficulties, has left many schools struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels, further exacerbating the challenges facing educators.

Adding to the crisis, Estyn highlights deteriorating pupil behaviour, with reports of increased disruption in classrooms leading to talented teachers leaving the profession. The watchdog criticises the Welsh Government for failing to provide clear guidance and sufficient resources to tackle these pressing issues.

Political fallout

Reacting to the report, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS, condemned Labour’s handling of the education system, stating: “The Welsh Conservatives have long warned about the crises facing our schools—soaring absenteeism, teacher recruitment struggles, and rising school violence.

“Estyn’s report makes it clear that pupil attendance is ‘stubbornly low,’ recruitment issues are undermining educational standards, and pupil behaviour is driving talented professionals out of teaching.

“Labour’s failure to address these challenges has left Welsh education in crisis. Weak guidance, underfunding, and a lack of support for teachers are failing our children. Welsh education is broken under Labour—only the Welsh Conservatives can fix it.”

The Welsh Government has yet to formally respond to the criticisms, but Labour ministers have previously defended their education policies, pointing to ongoing investments in school infrastructure and teacher training programmes. However, critics argue that these efforts have fallen short, leaving schools ill-equipped to tackle the fundamental issues identified in Estyn’s report.

Calls for urgent reform

Education unions and opposition parties are now demanding immediate intervention to prevent further decline. Among the key recommendations are increased funding for schools, stronger behavioural policies, and targeted support for struggling pupils. There are also calls for a review of teacher recruitment strategies to attract and retain high-quality educators.

With Welsh education at a crossroads, the pressure is mounting on the Labour-led government to take decisive action. As schools continue to grapple with these mounting challenges, the future of education in Wales remains uncertain, with many questioning whether real change will be delivered before it is too late.

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Community

Alert system set to be introduced for flood-hit Tenby road

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A CALL for a road closure alert system at a regularly flood-hit road at the entrance to Tenby where the existing sign warnings “don’t like operating when it’s wet” has been backed by senior councillors.

Back at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Rhys Jordan had said: “The B4318 at Gumfreston is prone to persistent flooding during adverse weather conditions, leading to road closures that disrupt travel and pose safety risks for residents and motorists.

“Currently, closures are not effectively communicated to residents, causing inconvenience, delays, and potential hazards. An efficient alert system would provide timely information to residents, allowing them to plan alternative routes and ensuring safety.”

At the October meeting Cllr Jordan had revealed the existing flood warning system signs “don’t like operating when its wet”.

The February meeting of the council’s Cabinet received a notice of motion by Cllr Jordan calling for a flood alert system for residents warning of any road closures of the B4318, which was recommended for approval.

In his notice of motion, Cllr Jordan said the flood warning signs, “continue to malfunction, leaving residents uninformed and ill-prepared for closures,” despite him raising the issue at full council on two occasions.

His call said: “The technology required to address this issue already exists within Pembrokeshire County Council. For example, the Cleddau Bridge successfully uses an alert system to inform residents and motorists of closures. A similar system should be implemented for the B4318 at Gumfreston.”

A report for members said a 2011 feasibility report to realign or raise the road had estimated the costs would be £4.5m at the time, now raised to £6m, the budget at the time used to install the flood monitoring and warning system.

The report added: “Recently, the warning sign system was subject to a hostile cyber-attack and whilst this has now been resolved, the signs are not currently being operated automatically, but are being remotely controlled from the Cleddau Bridge office when required.

“However, the Highways teams are working with suppliers to improve reliability and to install new water depth sensors which will allow the system to be restored to automatic operation once more.”

Referencing the current Cleddau Bridge system, the report said it would be feasible to have a similar system for the B4318 road at Gumfreston, with a cost of some £2,000 for the works.

Speaking at the February 10 meeting, Cllr Jordan said there was a need for “a long-term infrastructure solution” to address the flooding issues, but said the recommendation was a “pragmatic” improvement given the council’s limited resources.

“But what I am not happy is with the length of time this has taken, it’s a step in the right direction but disappointing that it has taken a year of me asking and many years of people suffering to get to the situation today.

“It will not solve the problem but at least will provide some mitigation. The residents deserve better planning and better outcomes.”

Cabinet member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the council “acknowledge a long-term sustainable solution would be the best outcome,” but was pleased there was “a sense of pragmatism” in the proposal.

The proposal was unanimously supported by Cabinet members.

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