A very big thank you to all who put their trust in me at the ballot box last Thursday.
Whilst I am incredibly disappointed not to have been elected to represent the new seat of Clwyd East, I am very proud of my six and a half years as Member of Parliament for the Vale of Clwyd.
It has been important to me throughout to be a constituency-focussed MP, proactive in securing a brighter future for the whole region.
Above all else, the £1bn+ commitment to upgrade and electrify the North Wales Mainline from Crewe and Warrington to Holyhead was the culmination of many years of work by me and others. It will be tragic if the change in government and local representation puts this at risk. I am also proud of the tens of millions of pounds of central government funding awarded to the area via the Levelling Up Fund, the Long-Term Plan for Towns, the North Wales Growth Deal and the Shared Prosperity Fund. If spent well, this can be transformative for Rhyl. It will also freshen up Prestatyn High Street and deliver on the former North Wales Hospital development in Denbigh.
All being well, joint working with local people and the UK Community Ownership Fund will not only have seen the safeguarding of the Salusbury Arms in Tremeirchion, and the reopening of the Llandrynog Community Shop, but also the purchase of Belle Vue to secure the future of football in the heart of Rhyl for generations to come. Likewise, I was able to persuade the Chancellor to award Theatr Clwyd with £1.6m at the last Budget and that will make a real difference for this cherished regional facility.
As an NHS GP, it has been imperative to me to get across to the highest levels of the UK Government the need for national-level intervention to turn around Betsi Cadwaladr, and greater rights to access to health services elsewhere for North Wales patients. It was a breakthrough to see these included within my party’s election manifesto, and it is a matter of great regret to me that the Welsh Government will now face reduced scrutiny of its many failings.
I would like to thank my excellent constituency office team who have supported me over the last Parliament. Togther we have taken on 23,389 local cases since 2019, including during the very difficult pandemic period. I would also like to thank my campaign team and the scores of volunteers who worked tirelessly for me during the recent election campaign.
It is 20 years since I returned home from University and stood for the local council in Prestatyn. Since that time, I have been on a mission to deliver for the area, and the progress Prestatyn has made in particular has been so rewarding, and has made all the ups and downs more than worthwhile. I look forward to the town’s new police station opening this September.
I am bowled over by the supportive messages I have received since the election results were announced. It has been an immense honour to be your Member of Parliament – thank you.
I am now looking forward to a much-needed rest and some quality time with my family.
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