News
Keir Starmer unveils six steps to transform Wales

KEIR STARMER this week (Wed, May 29) launched an ambitious plan aimed at revitalising Wales after what he describes as “14 years of failure and decline” under Conservative governments. Joined by Vaughan Gething, First Minister of Wales, and Jo Stevens, Shadow Welsh Secretary, Starmer presented Labour’s six steps for change at a major event in South Wales.
Starmer’s plan promises fundamental changes rather than short-term fixes, with each step fully costed and funded. The Labour leader emphasised that economic stability is the cornerstone of his offer, asserting that this would bring about the most significant transformation after the turbulence of five Prime Ministers in seven years and the economic turmoil attributed to Conservative policies.
Addressing the pressing concern of job security at the Port Talbot steelworks, Starmer reiterated Labour’s commitment to investing in the UK’s steel industry. He also placed Wales at the heart of Labour’s strategy to provide cleaner, cheaper energy, highlighting potential investments in ports like Holyhead, which he visited earlier with Gething and Stevens.
Labour’s six steps for change in Wales include working in collaboration with the Welsh Government to reduce NHS waiting times, recruit new teachers, unlock Wales’s green energy potential, ensure public safety with 13,000 new neighbourhood police, and deliver more teachers to classrooms where they are most needed.
Labour’s Six Steps to Change Wales:
- Economic Stability: Implement tough spending rules to grow the economy while keeping taxes, inflation, and mortgages as low as possible.
- Reduce NHS Waiting Times: Focus on patients waiting the longest and those in most need, funded by cracking down on tax avoidance and non-dom loopholes.
- Border Security Command: Establish a new unit with hundreds of specialist investigators using counter-terror powers to dismantle criminal boat gangs.
- Great British Energy: Create a publicly-owned clean power company in partnership with the Welsh Labour Government to reduce bills, enhance energy security, and create jobs, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants.
- Combat Antisocial Behaviour: Increase neighbourhood policing, impose tough penalties on offenders, and invest in youth services, funded by ending wasteful contracts.
- Recruit New Teachers: Focus on key subjects to prepare children for the future, funded by ending tax breaks for private schools.
Starmer’s Vision for Wales
“This is a chance to vote for a Wales finally free from the impact of Tory chaos and division,” Starmer declared. “These first steps show that a changed UK Labour Party is back in the service of working people in Wales. They show our priorities, what we care about and what the public cares about. Country first, party second.”
Vaughan Gething echoed these sentiments, asserting that July 4th marks a pivotal moment for Wales. “With two Labour governments working in partnership, we can end the churlish Tory war on devolution and back a stronger Welsh economy,” he said. “The UK can once again be led by a Prime Minister and a party that believes in public service and the potential of our communities.”
Starmer and Gething’s joint appearance underscores Labour’s unified approach and commitment to addressing the needs of Wales. The plan aims to rejuvenate the Welsh economy, enhance public services, and create a sustainable future for its citizens.
For continued coverage and updates on this developing story, stay tuned to The Pembrokeshire Herald.
News
A40 closed after serious crash near Wolfscastle

AIR AMBULANCE LANDS AT SCENE AS TRAFFIC DISRUPTED
THE A40 between Wolfscastle and Haverfordwest was closed in both directions on Friday afternoon (Apr 11) following a serious road traffic collision.
The crash, which was first reported at 12:10pm, prompted a significant emergency services response, including Dyfed-Powys Police and the Wales Air Ambulance, which was seen landing at the scene shortly after the incident.
AA Roadwatch confirmed that the road was shut in both directions, with slow-moving traffic and congestion reported in the surrounding area for several hours after the collision.
Police urged motorists to avoid the area and to seek alternative routes while emergency crews dealt with the incident.
At the time of writing, no official update has been given on the number of vehicles involved or whether there were any injuries. Dyfed-Powys Police have been approached for comment.
Traffic disruption remains ongoing, with live road maps showing long delays approaching Haverfordwest from the east.
More updates will follow as information becomes available.
Crime
Police investigate alleged assault at Milford Haven property

OFFICERS from Dyfed-Powys Police have been maintaining a presence at a property on Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, as part of an ongoing investigation into an assault.
The Herald understands that the front door of the property has been boarded up with plywood, prompting concern and speculation from local residents.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Officers have been undertaking scene preservation in relation to an investigation of assault.”
No further details have been released at this stage, and it is not yet known whether any arrests have been made.
Residents told The Herald they noticed police activity at the address earlier this week, with officers attending the property and cordoning off the area.
The Herald will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Business
Haverfordwest opticians celebrate 100 years of long service

WALES’ LARGEST Specsavers store is celebrating a series of individual long service milestones, with nine team members collectively marking a century of long service in 2025.
At the heart of the celebrations is Andy Britton, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Haverfordwest, who has worked at the company for 20 years.
Since becoming a partner in 2006, Mr Britton has overseen the store’s transformation from a small site with just four test rooms to a state-of-the-art £1.2 million premises at 21 Riverside Quay. The enhanced store now boasts 14 test rooms equipped with cutting edge technology and a significantly larger team, growing from 11 to 45 employees.
Haverfordwest residents benefit from Mr Britton’s clinical expertise – he holds multiple postgraduate diplomas that allow him to prescribe medication directly to customers, helping to ease pressure on local GP surgeries and hospitals. He has also led the introduction of enhanced services, including glaucoma monitoring, ensuring more people can access specialist care closer to home.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Britton says: ‘It’s been a privilege to serve the Haverfordwest community over the last 20 years. I’m proud of the team we’ve built and the progress we’ve made – all with the aim of delivering the best possible care for our customers.’
Mr Britton’s anniversary was celebrated alongside colleagues Elise Evans, Gareth Riley and Carrie Lewis-Jones – each marking 15 years with Specsavers – as well as other team members celebrating 10 and five-year milestones.
Fellow director, Wayne Jones, was among those celebrating five years with the business, after joining the Haverfordwest store in 2020. He was named a finalist for Optometrist of the Year at the Optometry Wales Awards in 2023 and then in 2024, joined forces with Mr Britton as retail director of the store.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr Jones says: ‘Our team’s experience and dedication are what makes Specsavers Haverfordwest so special. Reaching 100 years of individual long service milestones in 2025 is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s a real testament to the commitment of our colleagues, and we look forward to many more successful years ahead.’
To mark the occasion, the directors hosted an in-store awards ceremony, presenting certificates and bottles of champagne to the nine long-serving team members celebrating.
Specsavers Haverfordwest is open seven days a week. To find out more information about Specsavers in Haverfordwest, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.
Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.
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