Jo Stevens MP My first year as your Labour Member of Parliament
Speaking up for you
Helping local families
Promoting small business
Supporting young people
www.jostevens.co.uk
Dear neighbour, It is a year since you elected me to serve as your Labour Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central. The year has flown by. I’ve been involved in as much as I can here in Cardiff Central and in Parliament. In this magazine, my annual report to you, I wanted to share a bit of what I’ve been up to and how I have been representing you. If you need my help with any local or personal issues, please get in touch or come along to one of my surgeries. Details of upcoming surgeries are available at www.jostevens.co.uk/surgeries or by phoning 02921 329 736. I will keep working hard in Cardiff Central and in Parliament to be your strong voice, represent you and get the best deal for our community.
Jo Stevens MP
Keep in Touch Jo Stevens MP Phone: 02921 329 736 Email: jo.stevens.mp@parliament.uk Online: @JoStevensLabour fb.com/JoStevensLabour www.jostevens.co.uk
Office: 116 Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RU Newsletter: Sign up now to receive my monthly email newsletter with updates on my work in Parliament and the constituency: http://bit.ly/JSMPNews
Promoted by Jen Thornton on behalf of Cardiff Central Labour Party, both at 116 Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RU. Printed by Symposium Print Ltd, 27g-27h Vale Business Park, Llandow CF71 7PF.
My Year in Numbers The most common casework issues:
52
weeks as your MP
95
advice surgeries
3651
Constituent enquiries ward by ward*:
54
Cyncoed 468
Plasnewydd 1077
Cathays 497
constituents supported
Pentwyn 523 Penylan 516
Adamsdown 570
speeches in Parliament
92
Parliamentary questions
6422 Tweets posted
In Parliament
I sat on the Business, Innovation and Skills select committee from June December 2015. The committee scrutinises Government policy and reports on issues such as productivity, the steel crisis, higher education and the digital economy. I used my experience as a former director and business owner to put government ministers on the spot about their lack of support for jobs and students. I’ve been lucky enough to have been picked ‘out of the hat’ twice to ask the Prime Minister a question. My first question was to ask the Prime Minister if he cared about the shocking 1665% increase in food bank use since he took office. The second was about extending ground-breaking Welsh Government organ donation legislation to England.
put s y a alw l l ct i e l w e “I s I wa ll sp . t s r fi I wi d n a you I made my first speech in the House of Commons on 4th June 2015. As is traditional, I talked about my predecessor MPs and some of the highlights of Cardiff Central including our traditional dish of chicken curry half and half on Caroline Street! One of the Government’s flagship bills this year has been the Trade Union Bill. This attack on working people is illegal, illiterate and illiberal and Labour MPs have worked hard to fight it. I was on the Bill Committee, challenging the bill line by line and proposing amendments. A campaign by Labour MPs and Lords, and Trade Unions, has led to the Government climbing down on some of the key aspects.
nts e u t i t ons c y ent m s e r p ” o re ted t p for you. u peak
In July I voted against the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill. I do not believe you elected me to support cuts to benefits for disabled people, and those with serious longterm illnesses, like cancer, and over 4300 families with children who relied on tax credits. In January I spoke as the Government attempted to scrap maintenance grants, which help the poorest students afford to go to university. Not only this, but they used a ‘backdoor’ method to try to avoid a debate and a vote in the House of Commons. My Labour colleagues and I saw what they were doing and insisted on having our say.
In December Parliament voted on whether the UK should conduct air strikes in Syria. I voted against air strikes because of a lack of strategy co-ordinated through the United Nations to defeat ISIL/Daesh, and a lack of strategy to deal with the humanitarian crisis and postwar reconstruction. In January I was appointed to Labour’s Shadow Front Bench as Shadow Justice Minister and, Shadow Solicitor General. I challenge Government policy on justice issue, particularly prisons and probation, question Minister regularly and help to direct Labour Party policy on these issues.
In the Constituency Information Fun Day
In February I held my first Information Fun Day with Jenny Rathbone AM. Representatives from a range of organisations joined us in Llanedeyrn to provide advice. We were also joined by Communities First and Groundwork Wales for creative play and craft activities. We will be hosting another event soon - keep an eye out on my website for details.
Toasting marshmallows
Championing Small Businesses
Jo and Mel, Penylan Pantry
Illtud, Charcutier Ltd
Small businesses make a huge contribution to our local economy, and I’ve enjoyed working with them. I spoke in Parliament about the Slow Food movement after I was introduced to it by Penylan Pantry. I am working with businesses on City Road who want to promote the area as a ‘food quarter’. Charcutier Ltd, a Roath market favourite also won a national BBC award.
Visiting Young People in Schools
I have visited 11 schools this year, meeting over 500 pupils. I’ve been introduced to school councils, grilled on what I do as an MP, asked to say hi to Ed Miliband and visited a reconstructed First World War hospital. Visitng schools is one of my favourite MP jobs. I’m always inspired by the enthusiasm and curiosity of the next generation of political minds!
Albany Primary School
Photo Diary
a new crossing Campaigning for rents pa al loc patrol with
Meeting with Claire Blakeway, President of Cardi ff University Students’ Union
nk Supporting the foodba th collection at Tesco in Roa
Visiting the Royal Mail sorting office and my local postie Colin
With the Alsharki family, who I helped to reunite after they were forced to flee their home in Syria
er pick in Taking part in a litt yn Pentw
At LGBT Pride in Cardiff City Centre
ice Visiting the Speakeasy Adv d Centre on Richmond Roa
campaigning With Brian May hunting ban x fo e th ep to ke
Speaking at a rally against the Trade Union Bill
ing Eid Card Awarding our winn Rathbone ny Jen th wi r ne desig AM
Meeting refugees at a housing project in Adamsd own
Over to you... This magazine has included some of my highlights of the last year. It’s hopefully given you an insight into what I do as your MP, both in Parliament and here in Cardiff Central. I always like to hear about the issues that matter to you, whether it’s something in the local community, a national policy issue or a personal situation. Fill in this form and return to Jo Stevens MP, 116 Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RU or email jo.stevens.mp@ parliament.uk any time. Have your say Name: ________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ How can I help you? What issues should I be focusing on? Let me know:
Promoted by Jen Thornton on behalf of Cardiff Central Labour Party, both at 116 Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RU. Printed by Symposium Print Ltd, 27g-27h Vale Business Park, Llandow CF71 7PF.