News

Former MP calls on Pembrokeshire councillors to back final say

Published

7 years ago

March 20, 2019

THE MP who was the first minister to resign in protest at Theresa May’s handling of Brexit has written to every Conservative councillor in Pembrokeshire asking them to support a call for the public to be given a final say.

Dr Phillip Lee is chair of Right to Vote, a campaign group which claims the ‘only sensible and pragmatic solution is to put the final decision on Brexit back to the people’.

With less than two weeks until the UK is due to leave the EU on Friday March 29, MPs last Tuesday again rejected Theresa May’s deal.

In the letter, Dr Phillip Lee tells Pembrokeshire Tory councillors, “The services you provide and scrutinise day in day out will seem far more relevant to most people’s lives than the elaborate debates at Westminster, and I fully understand that most voters – however they voted in the referendum three years ago – will be fed-up with the distraction.
“I understand that frustration, and I don’t think a short delay can solve anything. There is clearly no majority for the Prime Minister’s compromise nor for the default no-deal departure which is still a terrifyingly real possibility. A long delay of two years or more would also cause anger and uncertainty and might send the whole Brexit project into the long-grass, unresolved.
“This poses a menacing threat to our economy and to local employers such as South Hook LNG Terminal Company and Dragon LNG Group. Every day there is more news of companies not committing to the UK or worse, moving their operations abroad.

In Preseli Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituencies, the UK Trade Policy Observatory, a collaboration between Chatham House and the University of Sussex, has predicted that 1295 local jobs will be lost in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The potential economic harm this deal will cause should further focus our minds.”

Earlier this month, Right to Vote polled 5,500 voters across 31 constituencies nationwide – and the research found that in the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency, 60% of voters who expressed an interest want a final say on Brexit, with 40% against.

Dr Phillip Lee, who quit the Government in June 2018, adds in the letter to local Tory councillors: “Right to Vote believes we need to stop the clock with a purpose. Government and Parliament need time to agree a coherent, credible and compelling case for an orderly exit from the EU.
“With clarity of purpose, sincere intent and collective willpower, I believe MPs could break the deadlock by the autumn, and present it to the people for the final say. This process began with the people and it should end with the people.
“If they vote for a practical and realistic proposal agreed in Parliament that would end this matter for ever. If they choose to reject it, MPs would have to respect their wishes. Either way – we get closure on Brexit by Christmas.”

Right to Vote was formed in January by several high profile MPs in response to what it describes as the Government’s failure to navigate Brexit. Co-founders include Dominic Grieve, Justine Greening, Sam Gyimah and three MPs who resigned from the Conservative Party last month: Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Dr Sarah Wollaston.

Last month, Dr Phillip Lee was invited to meet with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street to discuss the campaign’s calls for a pause in the process and a final say vote.

Demonstration for People’s vote

Campaigners from across Pembrokeshire will be making their way to London on Saturday, March 23, to join a mass demonstration to demand a People’s Vote on Brexit.
Hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK are expected to take part in the People’s Vote “Put It To The People” march in central London.
People will travel to London from every corner of the UK including Gwynedd, the Highlands of Scotland and Gibraltar.
More than 100 coaches, including 1 from Pembrokeshire and a train have already been booked by People’s Vote supporters travelling across the UK.
Some of the coaches being used to get demonstrators to the capital will be sponsored by local celebrities.
Many UK citizens living abroad are also planning to travel home to take part in the march, including Australia, the US, Malaysia, Africa and hundreds from across the EU.
The government is still desperately trying to secure the backing of the UK Parliament for its heavily criticised Brexit plan and the mass demonstration in London takes place just days before the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union.
Last October, more than 700,000 people marched through central London to demand a People’s Vote on Brexit.
The event, beginning at the Wales meeting point at 11am at Hyde Park Bandstand, before joining the main march at 12pm – “High Noon” – on Park Lane on March 23, will see people march to Parliament Square for a mass rally and keynote speeches.
Young and old from all walks of life, will be marching side by side, through the centre of London, including families pushing buggies, grandparents, teenagers, students, office workers, celebrities and Members of Parliament.
Alistair Cameron from Pembrokeshire for Europe said: “Brexit is already causing deep damage to Wales, threatening jobs, businesses, the NHS and living standards in Pembrokeshire.
“The Put It To The People march may very well be our last chance to demand a democratic final say on this mess, before it’s too late. This is High Noon for Brexit.
“Anyone who cares about the future, anyone who feels betrayed by broken promises in the last referendum, anyone who wants to prevent years more of this madness is welcome to join us to make their voice heard. It’s now or never.”

Health

NHS Wales app gives tutor fresh start after mental health struggles

Published

52 minutes ago

February 8, 2026

Staff Writer

A TUTOR who struggled with depression and anxiety found “life-changing” online support through a free NHS Wales service.

Former maths teacher Iain Messenger had experienced anxiety for decades but said looming retirement and the collapse of his marriage were the final straw.

He called the NHS 111 press 2 mental health service after experiencing crippling panic attacks, low self-esteem and ‘dark thoughts’.

He was signposted to SilverCloud Wales, an online platform offering guided self-help programmes for mental health and wellbeing.

Speaking out to coincide with Time to Talk Day – the nation’s biggest mental health conversation – 58-year-old Iain said: “The sense of hopelessness dissipated almost immediately.

“I realised I wasn’t the only one – other people were dealing with the exact same problems and feelings. I no longer felt alone.”

The former teacher, who lives near Welshpool, decided in 2024 to quit the classroom and focus on private tutoring.

But handing in his notice coincided with a marital breakdown, and he began each day of his final months in work battling panic attacks.

“I was struggling with my close relationships, and basic decision-making always turned into a drama,” Iain explained.

“I felt useless, wandering about not able to focus on anything. I couldn’t even read a book or watch the TV.

“I had some pretty dark thoughts – that I was a disaster, and no use to my family. I was in a real mess.”

Iain said seeking help through 111 press 2 in June last year was a ‘huge’ and ‘humbling’ step.

“It’s a bloke thing – you put on a front and pretend you’re OK,” he explained. “And I was typical in that regard, I wouldn’t really speak to anybody.

“You feel like the only person in the world who can’t do life, but then when you phone 111 press 2 and they go through the list of questions, it’s instantly relatable. You realise you’re not the first person to be there.”

Iain was referred for counselling but was advised to try SilverCloud while he waited for an appointment.

The platform features online courses based on cognitive behavioural therapy for issues including depression, anxiety, poor sleep and stress.

Access is free to anyone in Wales aged 16 or over, without seeing a GP.

“I was sceptical at first,” Iain admitted. “I just couldn’t see how an online platform was going to work, I thought I needed someone to press the right buttons and fix me.

“But going through the programme, there were scenarios that described exactly how I was feeling. I identified with so much of what was being said.

“And I was now actively doing something to get well. Just having a plan in place meant I went almost immediately from hopeless to hopeful.”

SilverCloud Wales is managed by NHS Wales’ Online CBT Service, based at Powys Teaching Health Board.

Over 41,000 people have accessed the Wales-wide service since it piloted in Powys in 2018.

As well as programmes for adults, the platform has courses for students and young people, and for parents supporting children and teens with anxiety.

SilverCloud’s three most popular programmes – addressing anxiety and depression – are also available in Welsh.

Online CBT Service project manager Fionnuala Clayton said: “Time to Talk Day reminds us how important it is to speak up when you’re struggling – it’s often the first step to feeling better.

“But we know that isn’t always easy, and that’s where SilverCloud can help. It offers flexible, confidential support you can access straight away, without waiting for a GP appointment. We’re delighted to see the difference it’s made to Iain’s life.”

Iain added: “I’m still using the lessons I picked up through SilverCloud, and they’re becoming more embedded in my thinking.

“I’m grateful – on a daily basis – for the things I learned. It’s been lifechanging.”

Cover image:

Former maths teacher: Iain Messenger

Business

Report into Wales SME finance paints mixed picture as barriers remain

Published

59 minutes ago

February 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report by the British Business Bank and Economic Intelligence Wales shows that while most Welsh SMEs remain financially stable, many continue to face barriers to accessing finance and are less likely than their counterparts in other devolved nations to seek funding for future growth.

The Wales SME Access to Finance Report 2026 has found that 66% of Welsh SMEs are currently using external finance, and eight in ten (80%) report a positive cash flow position. Despite this, 19% of smaller Welsh businesses reported experiencing barriers to accessing finance, the highest proportion among the devolved nations.

The report also highlights a more cautious outlook among Welsh SMEs when it comes to future investment. Just 17% of Welsh businesses expect to require additional finance over the next year, compared with 42% in Northern Ireland and 47% in Scotland. While 62% of Welsh SMEs that anticipate needing finance say they are confident about securing it, overall demand for funding remains lower than elsewhere in the UK.

Regional variations within Wales are also evident. SMEs based in North Wales and South West Wales were more likely to report barriers to finance (both 21%), while South West Wales businesses were least likely to feel confident about securing additional funding. At the same time, SMEs in South East Wales were most likely to report a finance requirement above £250,000, reflecting differing growth profiles across regions.

***Giles Thorley, Chief Executive, Development Bank of Wales; Susan Nightingale, Director, Devolved Nations – UK Network, British Business Bank; Irvine Mwiti, Economist, British Business Bank***

The findings underline the importance of a diverse and accessible finance ecosystem to support business investment, innovation and growth across all parts of Wales.

Susan Nightingale, Director UK Network, British Business Bank, said: “Welsh businesses continue to show resilience and confidence, with most reporting positive cash flow and steady growth expectations. Yet, clear regional and structural differences remain in access to finance, particularly for smaller businesses and sole traders. With Wales recording the highest share of smaller businesses experiencing barriers to finance among the devolved nations, it is vital that all businesses, wherever they are in the country, have the knowledge, confidence and support to secure the right finance for them. This will be key to unlocking sustainable growth across every part of Wales.”

Giles Thorley, Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Wales, said: “This year’s Wales SME Access to Finance Report shows a mixed picture. It’s encouraging to see many Welsh SMEs reporting strong cash flow, yet concerning that confidence and demand continue to lag behind other UK nations. If we want our businesses to innovate, invest and grow, closing that gap must remain a priority.

“Improving access to finance isn’t something any one organisation can solve alone, but the Development Bank of Wales will continue to play a vital role in supporting SMEs, working alongside partners across the wider finance ecosystem to help businesses invest, innovate and grow.”

Economic Intelligence Wales is a unique research collaboration between the Development Bank of Wales, Cardiff Business School, Bangor Business School, the Enterprise Research Centre, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Business

International Women’s Day event aims to open doors for future talent in West Wales

Published

1 hour ago

February 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BUSINESS leaders, students and policymakers will gather in Pembrokeshire next month to mark International Women’s Day with an event focused on opportunity, leadership and retaining talent in West Wales.

***Jane Wallace-Jones, founder of Something Different will be a guest speaker at the event, according to organisers (Pic: Supplied)***

The third annual Partners in Progress: Give to Gain conference will take place on Friday (Mar 6), bringing together established professionals and the next generation of workers to share practical advice and real-world experience.

The event is organised by Institute of Directors Wales, in partnership with Bluestone National Park Resort and the Welsh Government through Trade & Invest Wales.

***Guest appearance: Belinda Houghton-Jones of RBC Brewin Dolphin***

Hosting the conference in West Wales, rather than a city centre, aims to highlight the growing opportunities available in regional communities and the role local employers play in keeping skilled people closer to home.

Running from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the programme will include panel discussions, site tours and networking sessions. Sixth form, college and university students will be encouraged to question speakers directly about careers, leadership and progression.

***Looking forward to speaking: Alex Shufflebottom*** ***of Shufflebottom Ltd one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of award-winning steel-framed buildings***

Speakers include Belinda Houghton-Jones of RBC Brewin Dolphin, Alex Shufflebottom Jones, former managing director of Shufflebottom Ltd and now an investor and mentor, Dr Owain James of Darogan, and Jane Wallace-Jones, founder of Something Different. The panel will be chaired by Richard Selby, National Chair of IoD Wales.

Organisers say the focus will be firmly practical, with businesses sharing examples of how they are developing staff, widening access to opportunity and building inclusive workplaces.

The discussion comes as Welsh firms continue to report difficulties recruiting and retaining skilled staff. IoD Wales’ latest State of the Nation survey found that skills shortages remain the biggest concern for almost four in ten organisations.

Jo Price, Nations Manager for Wales at IoD Wales, said the aim is to connect experience with ambition.

She said: “Partners in Progress is about bringing people together to tackle real challenges facing businesses and future talent in Wales.

“By connecting leaders and students in West Wales, we can share what works, build confidence and create opportunities where people live and want to work.”

Rebecca Rigby, Director of Operations at Bluestone, added: “We’re proud to host this event for a third year. It’s about creating meaningful connections between future talent and inspirational leaders, and showing what’s possible beyond the big cities.”

Thanks to Welsh Government support, tickets are fully funded, although places are limited. Standard prices are £25 plus VAT for members and £35 plus VAT for non-members.

Places can be booked online via the IoD website.