' I highlighted “the fragility of some rural economies'

MS for North Wales

Having taken part in the ‘Equal Power Equal Voice’ (EPEV) cross-equalities mentoring programme to increase diverse representation in public and political life in Wales, I hosted and spoke at their Senedd event.

Speaking by video recording, I said: “The UK Government’s 2021 ‘Barriers to elected office for disabled people’ concludes that ‘Disabled people face a number of barriers when participating in party politics, including venue accessibility, lack of interpretation, inaccessible formatting of materials, lack of facilities, and cultural barriers - including a lack of awareness, knowledge and interest on the part of some local parties to make politics more accessible for disabled people’”.

I emphasised that the Social Model of Disability says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment, and that we must work together to remove the barriers to access and inclusion for all.

Speaking on "tackling rural poverty" at the Welsh Conservative North Wales Area Conference, I highlighted “the fragility of some rural economies, poor access to employment opportunities and public services, low pay, a lack of affordable housing and social isolation”.

I referred to the £5.4 Billion European Structural Funding the Welsh Government received for areas with prosperity levels below three quarters of the EU average, which was “intended to be spent in such a way that it would not be needed again because the economy had become stronger and the prosperity gap had been closed”, and expressed regret that “the Welsh Government used it as recurrent funding to subsidise, rather than tackle, the causes of poverty in our rural Counties”.

I also referred to the legitimate self-catering businesses in rural areas who are suffering because the Welsh Government have used them as a scapegoat for Labour’s affordable housing supply crisis in Wales.

I Chaired the Senedd Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee (PAPAC) meeting, and as a member of the Cross-Party Group on Coeliac Disease & Dermatitis Herpetiformis, attended their online AGM. I also attended meetings of the Cross-Party Group on Faith, the online AGM and meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Shooting and Conservation, and the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet.

Other engagements included a meeting for Housing Association partners and Welsh Conservative MSs in North Wales, a meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s new Director of Primary Care to discuss their plans regarding primary care provision in North Wales, the official launch of Glyndŵr University’s Health Education Innovation Quarter, and a Trustee Meeting of charity ‘Both Parents Matter Cymru’.

For my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219