Julie Morgan MP

Arsenal star supports effort

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

A couple of weeks ago, I met the Arsenal and England footballer Theo Walcott at the launch of the Breastfeeding Manifesto in London.

The event, which took place during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, highlighted the aims of the Breastfeeding Manifesto. More than 30 not-for-profit organisations, including Unicef and five Royal colleges, have signed up to the Breastfeeding Manifesto to tackle the low levels of breastfeeding in the UK.

Theo himself grew up knowing how important breastfeeding is as his mum was a La Leche League breastfeeding leader. He has lent his support to the Breastfeeding Manifesto to help every child get off to a healthy start.

I was delighted to attend the launch and so pleased to see a young man like Theo supporting this cause. It is so important that we try to increase the levels of breastfeeding in the UK and Wales in particular, as it can make a major difference to the health of both mothers and babies. It's best for the baby and best for the mother.

We need to increase awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and support women who want to breastfeed, especially during the first six months of a baby's life. Let's make breastfeeding an easier thing for women to do.

Exciting times as our party elects leader

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

In politics, you win some and you lose some — it's just the nature of things.

In the recent Welsh Assembly elections, it was a mixed bag for Labour, but now the election is over, we have to get on with things.

I'm looking forward to working hard to rebuild our support and I am much encouraged by the start Gordon Brown has made in his campaign to become Labour leader. Already, Labour has risen in the polls.

In my constituency of Cardiff North, we were very disappointed our candidate, Sophie Howe, was not successful in her bid to replace Sue Essex and to become an AM. After eight years in the Assembly, Sue decided to retire and we were delighted when Sophie was selected as candidate.

As a councillor for Whitchurch and Tongwynlais, she has worked incredibly hard for children and families and for our neighbourhoods — she has been committed, cheerful and diligent in all she did. With such an excellent candidate and with all the positive achievements of the Assembly, we felt she had a very good chance of winning the seat. Everyone worked incredibly hard oon the campaign right from the start and our hopes were high.

But, unfortunately, the mood was not with us and we now have to regroup and move onwards and upwards. Two other elections now face us — one for the leader of the Labour Party and one for deputy leader. I'm supporting Gordon for leader and Harriet for deputy leader as I think they would work together very well — I'm excited about the new era.

On May 1, I celebrated ten years of being MP for Cardiff North. It's been an enormous privilege to serve the people of the constituency and the time has flown by. We celebrated with a cake and balloons and I hope, at the next election, we'll again have something to celebrate.

So proud of our Assembly achievements

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

It'll be election time again in just over a month's time. On Thursday, May 3, Wales will go to the polls again to elect members for the National Assembly for Wales.

In an age of cynicism about politics in both the media and, if we are to believe the reports, the general public at large, it's worth reflecting, I think, on all the good things that the National Assembly for Wales has done. Of course, as a Labour MP, I am very proud that such positive things have been achieved under Labour leadership.

Let's start with all the things that have become free over the last few years, thanks to the Welsh Assembly. Free prescriptions for everybody from April onwards; free bus travel for the disabled and over 60s; free school milk for five- to seven-year-olds; free nursing care in Welsh nursing homes; free breakfasts for primary schoolchildren; free swimming for pensioners and free swimming for schoolchildren during the school holidays in local council pools; free access to national museums in Wales.

I think these measures are tremendous steps forward — they benefit and open up opportunities for many people and are to be applauded.

In terms of public health, I am also very impressed with the great strides that have been taken by the Welsh Assembly. On April 2, I will wholeheartedly welcome the ban on smoking in all public places in Wales. In the NHS too, there is much to salute — health expenditure has nearly doubled since 1999, investment in new buildings and equipment is being trebled, seven new hospitals have been built or are on the way, there are over 8,000 more nurses and over 500 more consultants and waiting times are down.

Of course, there are some problems that are still outstanding, but I think if you ask most people, they cannot speak highly enough of the care they received in the NHS.

I could talk about how the Welsh Assembly has had a positive effect in many other areas. In education, for example, there are 1,700 more teachers and 5,700 more teaching assistants than in 1998, class sizes have been cut, standards have risen in all age groups and there are no top-up fees for Welsh students studying in Wales. Police-wise, working with the UK Government, we have record police numbers — 1,000 more offices in Wales since 1997 and this year, we should have a total of 700 Community Support Officers. 130,000 more people are in work in Wales than at the time of devolution. There has been £93 million in extra funding to boost recycling, investment in arts, culture and sport has grown to more than £150 million for the first time ... I could go on.

Reading the headlines, you may be forgiven for thinking that the Welsh Assembly has done very little. But this would be a mistake. Its work often gets overlooked and it is not given credit for positive things it has achieved — people think that they have "just happened".

Shadowing scheme is helping to build links between communities

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

Last week, as part of a pairing scheme organised by the British Council, I was shadowed by Gifti Abasiya, a member of the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives. She is a woman of great principle, at one time having been imprisoned for almost three years for her political beliefs.

Gifti visited me in both Westminster and Cardiff to see what the life of a British MP is like. Since Ethiopia is a fairly new democracy — democratic elections are only 15 years old — she was interested to see how things work here.

In Westminster, Gifti shadowed me to the Parliamentary Labour Party Women's Committee — as chairwoman of the Women's Affairs Committee, she was interested to learn about the community of women MPs in the House of Commons and to see what issues we are addressing. Interestingly, in the Ethiopian parliament, 22% of the MPs are women, 2% more than in our own.

Gifti was also interested to visit both the House of Lords and the House of Commons galleries where, on Wednesday, she got to see Prime Minister's Questions. She said that she was amazed at how much noise everyone made! Fortunately, she also got to visit the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, where the proceedings are decidedly more sedate — it is in committees like this that a lot of the most important work in Parliament is done.

I was delighted that Gifti was also able to come to see my work in the constituency and she spent a very full couple of days in Cardiff. It was a happy coincidence that her visit coincided with St David's Day and she was thrilled to take part in the celebrations at Gabalfa Primary School.

In Cardiff also, Gifti was very interested to visit the National Assembly, particularly because Ethiopia has a similar system of regional assemblies, as well as a centralised government. One of the main differences, however, between our system and Ethiopia's, is that MPs in Ethiopia onlu return to their constituencies for a week or so once or twice a year. Most of an MP's work is done in Addis Ababa. Of course, this is very different from our own system and my own experience as an MP, where my time is almost evenly split between Westminster and Cardiff.

The visit to Cardiff did not just focus on politics, however. I was pleased that Gifti was also able to see some of the cultural wares that Cardiff has to offer — at the Wales Millennium Centre and from Sgript Cymru at Chapter — as well as the good work being done by organisations like the Women's Workshop and the Women's Safety Unit.

A few years ago, I participated in a similar pairing scheme with an Ethiopian woman MP and it was a wonderful experienced. After it, I arranged for both microscopes for health centres, and books for the Ethiopian Parliament to be shipped out there, all of which were generously donated. I also established the Ethiopian Food for Thought fund which, thanks to the generosity of many people, has helped to fund a computer for the Women's Caucus in Ethiopia.

These shadowing schemes are very important in establishing links between different countries. Last week was a great opportunity to show the good work that is done in the Houses of Parliament and to show both Cardiff and Wales at their best.

Public meetings such a good idea

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

During the ten years I've been an MP, I've held many public meetings. They are one of the best ways of finding out what is on people's minds, providing a forum for their views.

Last week, for example, I held a public meeting on the renewal of Trident. As you may be aware, in December of last year, Tony Blair laid out plans to build a new generation of submarines for Trident missiles over the next 17 years, although the plans also include cutting the number of warheads by 20% and the number of submarines from four to three. The House of Commons is due to vote on this issue next month.

As someone who was there when the women set off from Cardiff to Greenham Common in 1981 to protest against the presence of nuclear weapons at the RAF base in Berkshire, my instinct is not to vote for Trident renewal. I think it's important, however, to consult with the public and to review this issue again.

I was pleased to see a packed meeting last week — the room was full of a variety of people, from Labour Party members (among whom there are sincere differences of opinion), members of CND and members of the public.

We had a good, emotionally-charged debate, with strong views expressed on both sides. Those for renewal emphasised the uncertain and unpredictable world we now face and the fact that a nuclear deterrent seems to offer a degree of safety. Those against were unconvinced whether Trident would work as a deterrent against an enemy we can't identify and feared investing in nuclear weapons would set off another costly arms race.

It was good to have the debate. My inclination is still to vote against renewal, but I will continue to inform myself about all aspects of this issue.

I look forward to public meetings, particularly the next one I'm holding on Saturday 10 March in Ararat Church from 10am to 12.30pm, to celebrate the bicentenary of the ending of slavery.

On this and many other issues, it's so important for people to be able to get together and have their say. I'm convinced this makes for a lively and engaged community and it is clearly one way that people can reconnect with the political process.

How people can make a change

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

The activist Marian Wright Edelman once said: "You really can change the world if you care enough."

For example, when I was campaigning on banning smoking in public places, there were times when we were not quite sure we would succeed. But, persistence paid off and the National Assembly will bring a ban into force in April.

I hope that we will have similar success with the campaign to save Llanishen Reservoir, and with the campaign to get justice for former ASW workers.

About 1,000 workers lost their pensions when this private company went bankrupt in 2002 and 893 were from the Cardiff area. Many of us have campaigned long and hard on this issue and the Government has responded.

It set up the Pensions Protection Fund, which will protect pensioners in this situation from now on, but which, of course, is not retrospective. And it set up the Financial Assistance Scheme.

The additional money given to the Financial Assistance Scheme was, I think, a direct resul tof the campaign led by the workers and particularly those from ASW. When the FAS was set up, the scheme applied to members who had reached retirement age or who were within three years of doing so. In the Pensions White Paper of 2006, the scheme was extended to those within 15 years of retirement, with total funding of £2.3 billion.

However, this still does not cover everyone and there is still a shortfall for many people. And just last week, there was a ruling from the European Court of Justice which said the issue of whether the Government has to pay out is a matter for the British courts. The case will now go back to the High Court.

In order to help the campaign along, I have agreed to table an amendment to the Pensions Bill which is currently before Parliament. I want to have another go in persuading the Government to extend and improve the FAS so that justice can be seen to be done.

The issue of pensions for ASW workers is still a running sore and we shall continue to campaign until we get a just outcome.

Many people care enough to make this happen.

Year will see so many new changes for the nation

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

The year 2007 looks set to bring with it lots of changes.

From April 1, smoking will be banned in all public places in Wales. If you're a regular reader of this column, you know that I campaigned long and hard for this change. I think that it is the single most important public health measure that we can take and I'm very much looking forward to its imminent implementation, first in Wales in the Spring and then in England in the Summer.

Also from April, thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government, prescription charges will be abolished for everyone in Wales. I think England is likely to follow suit, as it did with free off-peak bus travel for the disabled and those over 60. Once again, I'm proud to say that Wales has led the way.

We will also see a lot of changes in terms of the political landscape this year. There will be a change in the Labour leadership, of course — we will have a new Prime Minister. We will also have a new Deputy Leader and a new Deputy Prime Minister. Of the new candidates for Deputy Leader, I am supporting Harriet Harman MP. She has an excellent campaigning record, particularly on equality issues — she has been a strong advocate, for example, for low-paid women. With several candidates seemingly in the running, it should be an interesting contest.

There should also be interesting contests in the National Assembly elections which will be held at the start of May. In my constituency of Cardiff North, we will see a change of AM, as Sue Essex is retiring after many years of serving the community. I will be campaigning for the excellent Labour Councillor Sophie Howe to replace her, and am looking forward to all the canvassing and leafleting — though I must say that it hardly seems any time since the last election!

In Cardiff, I hope we'll see changes regarding several issues, such as the fate of Llanishen Reservoir. I hope that we will be successful in making sure that people can continue to enjoy the water and the surrounding area.

I hope also that we will see changes regarding anti-social behaviour in our community and that the police will use all the powers that have been given to them to help curtial the actions of the few who can make life miserable for many people.

So — the year ahead will bring with it many changes and challenges. And as we ring in the New Year, anything seems possible. It is with great optimism then, that I wish a happy 2007 to you all.

A friendly ear at a stressful time . . .

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

It's certainly hard to avoid the fact that the Christmas season is upon us — there are lights, Christmas trees and white-bearded men in red suits everywhere.

And even though Christmas is a time of great happiness for many people, for many others, it is a time of great sadness. For various reasons, people end up feeling worried, anxious and full of despair.

It's a difficult time of year for many, made harder by the fact that everyone else may seem to be having a good time and may seem to have the perfect family and the perfect Christmas planned. Amid all the compulsory jollity, many people feel that they are not waving but drowning.

But, fortunately, help is at hand and such help can come in the form of the Samaritans. I found this out for myself a couple of weeks ago when I visited the Cardiff branch to see what help and comfort they offer — they have been doing so for 40 years now.

It was wonderful to talk to the volunteers there who offer a 24 hour service to people all year round, but who are particularly needed at this time of year. People who need someone to talk to can drop into the Samaritans at 75 Cowbridge Road East from 8am until 10pm, seven days a week, or ring (029) 20 344022 or 08457 90 90 90 twenty-four hours a day or e-mail.

And if you feel that you would like to volunteer yourself for the Samaritans, why not contact them on (029) 20 645642 to find out about the open day on 14 January 2007 from 2-4pm. Sometimes it's hard to admit that we need help, but if you feel that everything is too much for you, just contact the Samaritans for free, confidential help.

I wish all the readers of the Cardiff Post as happy a holiday season as possible.

What a difference a day can make

This article is published today in the Cardiff Post.

John Lennon famously said that there are no problems, "only solutions", but there are some problems that seem far from being solved and that don't seem to be going away.

They may seem to fade into the background for a while, but this doesn't mean that they no longer exist. AIDS is one such problem and last Friday reminded us of this. December 1 was World AIDS Day, a day which focuses our attention back onto the misery that this disease causes.

I am always shocked when I am reminded of how many people are affected by HIV and AIDS. Worldwide, around 40 million people are living with HIV and that number is increases in every place every single day. In our own country, over 70,000 people are living with HIV — a Millennium Stadium worth of people — and more than 7,000 more people are diagnosed as HIV-positive every year. It is estimated that one third of people living with HIV in the UK are unaware that they have the virus. A staggering 25 million people have already died from AIDS.

Of course, there is a lot that can be done to prevent the spread of HIV and we must continue to make information and resources available to people in order to do this. As Elizabeth Taylor once said, "It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no-one should die of ignorance."

There is also a lot that can be done to treat HIV infection nowadays. Anti-retroviral drugs have meant that in the West, at least, a HIV-positive diagnosis is not the death sentence it once was. In other areas of the world, however, this is not the case and we face huge challenges in the effort to control HIV infection. I've seen for myself the terrible devastation that AIDS causes in Africa both for those dying from the disease and for the children they leave behind. In addition, in Africa, HIV infection is linked with TB infection. In Kenya, I visited one woman who lived in a windowless shack with 15 children and grandchildren to care for. She had lost two daughters to AIDS and was herself suffering from TB and was HIV-positive.

In Africa in particular, we must make sure that lack of information and prejudice about HIV and AIDS are overcome and that people become more aware about how the disease is spread. We must also make sure that access to affordable medicine is improved. We must strive to meet the target of providing universal HIV prevention, care and treatment by 2010.

If you would like to get involved and see what a difference a World AIDS Day can make, visit the website. We can all help to find the solution to this problem together.