Pontypridd’s new Welsh Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones makes her maiden speech today in Parliament and commits to use her voice loudly to secure more funding for the area.

Born and bred in Pontypridd, Alex also pays tribute to the town’s historical steel, coal and iron industries as well as her predecessor, Owen Smith who was the MP from 2010-2019.

Some of Pontypridd’s local legends including singer Tom Jones and Wales’ rugby player Gareth Jenkins are also mentioned in a speech that focuses on local inequalities.

Alex pledges to push the Government for better investment in rail electrification and transformational Tidal Lagoons technologies that are being developed in South Wales.

In her speech Alex also commits to raising issues relating to climate change and urges the Government to keep the climate emergency at the forefront.

One of the key campaign pledges during the General Election was to hold a climate debate in Pontypridd within 100 days of her election, and this is currently in the pipeline.

Ahead of the speech Alex said:

“For too long the Government hasn’t given Pontypridd the investment and attention it deserves and I will be doing everything I can to be a strong, proud voice for the town I was born and bred in.

Owen Smith is a hard act to follow but I will be using my voice in Westminster to focus on improving the lived experiences of people in the area I love.

I’m looking forward to the busy months ahead and am proud to be able to play my part in opposing Boris Johnson’s Tory Government”