Last week in Parliament MPs voted on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Despite our best efforts, the Conservatives voted against longer sentences for rapists, stalkers and those who break the anonymity of rape survivors and they effectively moved to end the right of peaceful protest.

This is seriously grim reading but sadly the rest of the Bill is no better.

Boris Johnson has been forced to apologise for his government’s 11 years of cuts causing rape convictions and prosecutions to fall to an all-time low, while delays for victims have rocketed to a record high.

Labour believe that now is the time to put in place long overdue protections for women against unacceptable violence, including action against domestic homicides, rape, and street harassment. Instead, the Conservatives have brought forward a Bill that is seeking to divide the country. It is a mess, which could lead to harsher penalties for damaging a statue than for attacking a woman.

There is nothing in the bill for victims of crime and nothing on rehabilitation or the prevention of crime. After years of broken promises by the Conservative UK government, Labour has set out its own victims’ bill that the government should accept. It should also accept Labour’s Survivor’s Support Plan for victims of rape.

Also worth noting that Labour MP Sarah Champion did successfully amend the Bill to stop convicted paedophiles changing their name to avoid detection.

I have also been busy in Newport West, recently I visited Sero Zero Waste, a new shop that opened in March that champions zero waste and is plastic free to help mitigate the climate and single use plastic crises.

Next, on independent business day was a visit to Orla Rose cakes, a wonderful bakery and Busy Bees’ Patchwork, which offers classes and a shop in store full of fabulous fabrics.

I love Newport’s thriving local businesses and I encourage everyone reading this to support local independent businesses when they can.

This includes the new Repair Café and library of things which will open soon at 26 Skinner Street. I for one cannot wait to visit and hope you all will do the same when it opens.

My office continues to support people across Newport West. So, if you have a query or need assistance, please contact us on ruth.jones.mp@parliament.uk or 07423 277979. I continue to hold regular virtual surgeries; if you want an appointment, please do get in touch. We are also hiring someone to join our team, if you are interested in applying take a look here: www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=79179