News

Stephen Crabb’s comments on Prime Minister’s resignation

Published

7 years ago

May 24, 2019

STEPHEN CRABB MP has commented tollowing the news of the Prime Minister’s resignation today (Friday, 24 May). Theresa May will stand down on June 7.

Mr Crabb said: “I’ve supported the Prime Minister over the last three years, both in public and in private, and I believe she has done her very best against almost impossible odds and I thank her for that.

“However, since Easter it has been increasingly clear that there will be no progress on Brexit under this Prime Minister and now is the time to turn the page to get a new leader in place.

“However, changing leader is no quick fix for our deeply divided country and I have said to a number of potential candidates that they should not pretend that the complexities of Brexit have gone away.

“Compromises will still need to be made, whoever takes over, but hopefully a new Prime Minister, bringing a fresh pair of eyes and ears, can find a way forward for the sake of the whole country.“

The Former Cabinet minister and Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb had called for the PM to be replaced within weeks yesterday.

The former Welsh Secretary and one-time contender for his Party’s leadership made his call in an interview with BBC Wales.

Speaking to The Herald Stephen Crabb said: “I’ve supported the PM over the last three years, both in public and in private, and I believe she has done her very best against almost impossible odds.
“However, since Easter, it has been increasingly clear that there will be no progress on Brexit under this Prime Minister and we need to turn the page to get a new leader in place – sooner rather than later.
“I absolutely don’t think changing leader is a quick fix and I have said to Boris Johnson and a number of other potential candidates that they should not pretend that the complexities of Brexit have gone away.
“Compromises will still need to be made, whoever takes over, but hopefully a new Prime Minister, bringing a fresh pair of eyes and ears, can find a way forward for the sake of the whole country. “

The stench of decay surrounding Theresa May’s premiership has finally become so intolerable that even MPs who have remained loyal to the PM’s pursuit of a Withdrawal Agreement now say it is time for the PM to go and go soon.
Mr Crabb and Mrs May are not natural political allies. Mr Crabb stood against the PM for the leadership of the Conservative Party and, despite his status as a former Cabinet minister, has remained a backbencher at a time when Conservative front bench talent has been notably thin.

Regardless of whether Mr Crabb’s exclusion from the government is by his choice or the PM’s, he has remained a vocal supporter of the Prime Minister’s efforts to secure a negotiated Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU.
However, although he has backed her efforts to get it through Parliament in the teeth of opposition from all sides, he says the PM’s approach no longer has his support.

Mr Crabb told BBC Wales on Wednesday that his party has “come to the end of the road with this prime minister”.
“We are at a moment where we do need to turn a page and look at a new prime minister coming in the next few weeks,” he said.
“It is clear talking to colleagues from all parts of the parliamentary party, even the more moderate centrists, that for all her efforts Theresa May hasn’t been able to deliver this pragmatic Brexit.
“We need to turn the page as quickly as possible and get into the leadership contest, which has already started in all but name.”

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

22 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.