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Haverfordwest: Rally to unseat MP takes to streets

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HUNDREDS of people took to the streets of Haverfordwest on Saturday (Oct 14) as part of a campaign to unseat Preseli Pembrokeshire’s Conservative MP.

Organised by Labour campaign group Momentum, the rally – which was the first such event since the Suffragettes visited in 1908 – featured television personality and author Owen Jones along with politicians and activists.

The event, described as ‘an unprecedented day of action against local Tory MP Stephen Crabb’, followed a cross-party meeting of the People’s Assembly last month, at which senior members of Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, the Lib Dems and Momentum came to an agreement to cooperate in campaigning directly against the MP.

In June’s snap General Election, Mr Crabb’s majority was cut to 314 from almost 5,000 as the Conservative Party led by Theresa May lost their majority and formed a minority government supported by the DUP.

Subsequently, the Labour Party has remained on an election footing, and Saturday’s rally in Haverfordwest formed part of a wider Momentum-led campaign to unseat eight prominent Tory MPs.

Labour AM Eluned Morgan opened proceedings, stating that without a Labour Government in Westminster, the Welsh Assembly was ‘restricted’.

Ms Morgan criticised Mr Crabb for ‘taking his own constituent to court’ when he was DWP minister. “People here know the name of Stephen Crabb, but not in a good way,” she added, telling the crowd that ‘without Preseli Pembrokeshire, Jeremy Corbyn will not be Prime Minister’.

Branch Secretary of Carmarthenshire Unison Mark Evans said that the workforce across local authorities had been reduced by 20% over the past five years. “This is causing stress levels to rise – it is not unusual for our members to be working four or five jobs to make ends meet,”  he added, recommending that local authorities led by Labour and Plaid Cymru should refuse to implement cuts and instead take money from reserves.

Local activist and Head of the People’s Assembly Jim Scott thanked Mr Crabb ‘for getting everyone this active’, while leader of the Green Party in Wales Grenville Ham claimed he had entered politics after being ‘haunted’ by footage of Stephen Crabb dancing.

Other high-profile speakers included Paul Rutherford who successfully took the DWP to the Supreme Court over the bedroom tax, and representatives of Disabled People Against Cuts and Women Against State Pension Inequality, along with Ceredigion’s candidate in 2017 Dinah Mulholland.

However, the star speaker was Owen Jones, who told an audience of over 200 people that ‘if we have an inspiring message we can turn things around’.

“This Tory government, just a few months ago was drunk on its own triumphalism – now look at them, fighting amongst themselves like rats in a sack,” he added, to loud cheers.

Explaining that this was the first such rally in Haverfordwest since 1908, Mr Jones referenced the history of protest movements including the Chartists and the Suffragettes. “We stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said.

It is not clear whether, given that it could be anywhere up to four-and-a-half years until the next general election, what direct impact if any this Momentum-led campaign will have, but it clearly touched a nerve with numerous attenders. One told The Herald that it was ‘great to see people getting off their a***s and doing something’.

The rally was followed by a comedy event in the Merlins Theatre that evening, which featured performers including The Artist Taxi Driver.

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Crime

Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen

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POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.

The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.

Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.

A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

“Quote reference: 24*355571”

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Community

Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine

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FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.

The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.

This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.

Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”

The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.

This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

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Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations

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SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).

The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.

Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”

The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?

If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.

A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.

West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.

Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.

The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.

The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.

“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.

“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”

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