WALES’ First Minister came under fire over the Labour UK Government’s decision to step in to save Scunthorpe steelworks after failing to do the same in Port Talbot.

Eluned Morgan stressed the two steelworks were in different situations after UK ministers took control of the Chinese-owned British Steel site in Scunthorpe this month.

Giving a statement on April 29, she told the Senedd: “The situation … was very different not only in terms of the global context but also … the relationship and intention of Tata Steel.”

Baroness Morgan rejected “never credible” suggestions the Labour UK Government should have persuaded Tata to reopen a deal initially negotiated by Conservative ministers.

On calls to take control of the Port Talbot plant, the First Minister said: “That would have been unrealistic and unworkable because of the opposition from Tata.”

Baroness Morgan added: “It would have led to prolonged legal conflict with the company, to the possible accelerated shut down of the remaining blast furnace and Tata could have withdrawn its contribution of £700m to the construction of the electric arc furnace.”

The Labour politician said construction of the electric arc furnace would begin this summer, with green steel set to provide a more sustainable and brighter future.

But Darren Millar, whose request for the Senedd to be recalled from Easter recess to discuss the issue was rejected, questioned the differing approaches in Wales and England.

The leader of the Conservative Senedd group said: “People are upset, understandably, and furious about the fact there seems to be a completely different attitude towards Welsh steel.”

He claimed Labour MPs “promised the earth” to steelworkers before last year’s general election only to U-turn on pledges which turned out to be “complete works of fiction”.

The First Minister claimed Tory UK ministers would not pick up the phone to her predecessor, saying she has pressed Labour colleagues to ringfence part of the £2.5bn fund for Wales.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth criticised the First Minister for “mocking” his party’s calls for nationalisation of the Port Talbot steelworks.

“A pipedream she called it patronisingly, which has become something of a trade for this First Minister,” he said, accusing Labour of blatant double standards at Wales’ expense.

Claiming Labour has abandoned workers, he told Senedd Members: “After this betrayal, we need cast-iron assurances that the UK Government’s investment in Scunthorpe in no way compromises the promises made to Port Talbot.”

Baroness Morgan said: “It always fascinates me that nationalists want to nationalise but they want England to pay … this week you want to nationalise steel, last week … Holyhead port.”

Labour’s Mike Hedges, a former steelworker, backed the First Minister: “This is not a battle between Port Talbot and Scunthorpe even though some people are trying to make it such.”

Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds said: “The UK’s emergency action confirmed what many of us here in Wales had feared: that our workers are second-class citizens.”

Baroness Morgan, who met steelworkers in Port Talbot on Friday, pledged to “move heaven and earth” to secure the future of Welsh steel through a “fair and just transition”.

A PEMBROKESHIRE security company that began as a local start-up just over three years ago has been awarded a string of prestigious national accreditations – cementing its position as one of Wales’ most trusted providers of training and protection services.

RM Training and Security Solutions Ltd, which employs around 300 people and is based in the county, has passed rigorous audits for both ISO 9001 and CoP 119 – two of the toughest and most respected certifications in the security industry.

These achievements, along with six other nationally recognised accreditations, underline the company’s meteoric rise from a small family-run venture to a sector leader with operations across South Wales.

Pembrokeshire roots, national reach

Founded in November 2021 by former high-risk security operative Ryan Mayne and Tenby native Kerry McReynolds, RM Training was born out of a desire to bring professionalism, fairness and opportunity to the Welsh security sector.

“Pembrokeshire gave me a second chance,” Ryan told The Herald. “I was sent here during the pandemic to work on Home Office security contracts, and I knew straight away this was where I wanted to stay and build something meaningful.”

That dream became a reality when Ryan partnered with Kerry — now his fiancée — and was soon joined by General Manager Mathew Davies, a seasoned security professional with a military background who helped the business expand quickly while maintaining discipline, training standards and reliability.

Together, the trio built a company that now works with everyone from local pubs and event organisers to public sector bodies and large commercial clients across Wales.

A clean sweep of accreditations

The company’s recent success in passing the ISO 9001 and CoP 119 audits is being hailed as a major milestone.

ISO 9001 is the gold standard for quality management systems, confirming that the business has robust internal processes focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

CoP 119, meanwhile, is a specialist code of practice set by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the British Standards Institution. It sets out strict requirements for recruitment, vetting, workforce welfare and compliance — ensuring companies who deploy security staff are ethical, transparent and accountable.

But RM Training’s achievements don’t stop there. The company also holds:

• Disability Confident Employer status — promoting inclusive recruitment and support for disabled workers
• CPD Approved Provider recognition — certifying its training as high-quality and professionally approved
• A Bronze Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme — showing support for veterans and reservists
• Good Business Charter membership — committing to responsible business practices
• ICO registration — ensuring data protection and privacy compliance
• SafeContractor and SafePQQ approval — verifying health, safety, environmental, and anti-bribery standards

General Manager Mathew Davies said: “These accreditations are more than just badges. They show we’re doing things the right way – by the book, with integrity, and with people at the heart of everything.”

Investing in people – and Pembrokeshire

One of RM Training’s central goals is to open doors for people in Pembrokeshire and beyond who want to build a secure, long-term career in the industry.

With over 140 training courses available — including door supervision, corporate and retail security, festival work and site guarding — the company is helping people gain the qualifications they need to work in a sector where demand is constantly rising.

“A big part of what we do is supporting people into work,” said Mr Mayne. “Whether they’re ex-military, looking for a fresh start, or just need flexible hours that work for their family – we give them the tools, training and confidence to succeed.”

A family-run firm with big ambitions

Despite its growth, the firm has never lost its family feel. Kerry McReynolds, who juggles raising their young son Archie with managing staff and client relations, remains at the centre of the operation.

“She’s the one who keeps everything moving,” Ryan said. “Without Kerry and Mathew, this wouldn’t work. We’ve all worked hard to build something we can be proud of — for Pembrokeshire, and for the people we serve.”

As the company looks ahead to more expansion across South Wales and the rest of the UK, it remains committed to its founding values: professionalism, fairness, opportunity — and giving back to the community that helped it grow.

Pembrokeshire will play vital role in UK’s green energy future

A NEW report from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has warned that the UK’s electricity transmission network must undergo its biggest upgrade since the 1960s if the country is to meet its legally binding net zero targets.

The independent study, released on Tuesday (Apr 29), outlines the huge financial, engineering and environmental considerations involved in expanding the high-voltage grid – and has implications for areas like Pembrokeshire, where wind and marine energy potential is among the highest in the UK.

The IET says a “massive increase” in grid capacity is essential to tap into Britain’s renewable energy resources – especially offshore wind – and deliver clean electricity to homes and businesses across the country.

The report compares the costs of overhead lines, underground cables, and subsea systems, showing that undergrounding is around 4.5 times more expensive than using pylons, while building a network of offshore high-voltage cables could be up to 11 times more expensive.

Despite the high costs, the report urges planners and policymakers to consider all factors – including visual impact, engineering feasibility, and environmental disruption – when selecting technologies for each location.

Local relevance

With projects like the proposed floating wind farms off the West Wales coast and grid reinforcements already underway in Pembrokeshire, the report’s findings are directly relevant to the region.

Much of the power generated by offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea will need to be transmitted across long distances – requiring new infrastructure across rural parts of West Wales.

The Herald understands that National Grid is actively exploring routes for new transmission corridors in the area, and campaigners have already raised concerns about the visual impact of pylons on the Pembrokeshire landscape.

Expert views

Professor Keith Bell, Chair of the IET report’s Project Board, said: “Access to a cleaner, more secure supply of electricity will only be possible if we invest in transmission. This is the largest programme of network development in more than half a century.”

Professor Andrew Lovett, one of the report’s authors, added: “There are no easy answers. Whether it’s pylons across farmland, cables under the ground or subsea options off the coast, each approach comes with trade-offs that need to be carefully considered in context.”

David Reid from engineering firm Mott MacDonald, which led the research, said: “The grid must expand and evolve to meet the demands of net zero. This report helps clarify the real costs and benefits of each option.”

Impacts in Pembrokeshire

Energy developments in Pembrokeshire – including potential connections at Pembroke Dock, the Valero refinery, and Milford Haven port – will be critical to the UK’s energy transition.

The Herald has previously reported on concerns raised by residents and local councils about how new pylons and substations might affect views, wildlife, and tourism. The IET’s report calls for transparency and open discussions with communities before decisions are made.

The full report, Electricity Transmission Technologies Report, is available from the IET’s website.