Author: Alex Keyes

On the 12^th December, the Labour Government’s landmark Armed Forces Commissioner Bill passed its House of Commons Committee Stage with the support of the local MP for Wrexham, Andrew Ranger. 

Introduced to Parliament in November, the Labour Government’s legislation will establish an independent Armed Forces Commissioner to improve service life for our Armed Forces and their families – a brand-new role which is welcomed by serving personnel.

The Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for serving personnel and their families, to raise issues which impact service life, from kit to housing and issues affecting family life.

Andrew Ranger was a member of the Committee that scrutinised the Armed Forces Commissioner

Bill, praising the new Commissioner role as a “strong, independent voice for our forces in

Wrexham and Wales, committed to improving service life.” The legislation passed the Committee Stage unamended.

The Commissioner will have powers to access information and defence sites, including visiting sites in the UK unannounced. They will have the power to proactively investigate issues facing our forces and their families, make recommendations, and set out those recommendations in reports, which will be laid before Parliament.

After the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill passed Committee Stage, Luke Pollard MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, said:

“Our new Government’s plan to create an independent champion for the armed forces and their families will help shine a spotlight on issues affecting service life. 

“This is a first step to renewing the contract between the nation and those who serve. Combined with the biggest pay rise for our troops in over 20 years, this shows how our Labour government is on a drive to lift military morale and retention. 

“I’m grateful for the support of Andrew Ranger in scrutinising this bill.” 

Andrew Ranger, MP for Wrexham said:

“Wrexham has a proud history of military service, from the Hightown Barracks to the overseas men who came and served here during both World Wars. As Wrexham’s MP, I was honoured to sit on the Armed Services Commissioner Bill Committee. The new Armed Forces Commissioner will be part of improving lives for those who serve in our military.”

Last Friday I was excited to visit postal workers at Wrexham Delivery Office to find out more about what it takes to deliver letters and parcels in the peak Christmas period.

Christmas is Royal Mail’s busiest period, with around double the normal volume of letters and parcels processed. Andrew spoke to Lead Customer Operations Manager Mark Kempster about Royal Mail’s strategy to continue to make sending and receiving parcels as convenient as possible over the festive period by adding more choice. This includes services like Parcel Collect, where posties pick up parcels from customers at the doorstep, and offering more ways to drop off parcels at convenient times and locations. Royal Mail has already rolled out more than 5,000 parcel points this year, including at Collect+ stores and its growing number of parcel lockers.

Royal Mail prepares all year to deliver Christmas. Across the UK, the business has recruited 16,000 temporary workers to help its 85,000 posties sort the additional mail and increasing number of parcels expected over the festive period. Almost 4,000 new vans, trucks and trailers are being added to the fleet in time for Christmas.

Wrexham Delivery Office has hired nine recruits and ten extra vehicles for the Christmas period to meet increased demand for deliveries in the local area.

Tuesday afternoon saw our government here in Wales announce its draft budget for the upcoming year, it is true that budgets come and go, but this year’s budget marked a significant milestone as the first in 14 years where we now have Labour Governments both in Cardiff and in Westminster. 

I know that back in July, a vote for Labour in Wrexham was a vote for change and a vote for an end to the chaos and division we’ve become all too familiar with. Quite rightly people become fed up with a Tory Government that’s relationship with the Welsh Government became one of cheap shots and political point scoring rather than working for and in the best interests of Wales. 

The measures announced in the budget show the possibilities offered when two Governments are working together side by side and unapologetically focused on delivering a plan for change reflected in the everyday lives of working people. 

At the forefront of the measures announced were significant increases in the budgets of our frontline public services, with an additional £600 million for our NHS, £101 million for education and a £253 million uplift to local Government settlements. Gone are the days of the begging bowl culture that had become all too familiar under the Tory Government, they can just get on with the job, knowing they’ve got two Governments on their side. 

There was also a clear focus on the economy with a 335m package of non-domestic rates support for businesses, including a 1% cap to the increase to the multiplier and a sixth successive year of relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, recognising the challenges that continue to be faced by our SME’s who really are the lifeblood of our local communities. Additionally, announced were ringfenced funds for the green energy sector ensuring that as we continue the path to net zero, business and workers are given the support and skills they need. 

Transport has also been one of the key challenges facing Wrexham with too many people having to rely on trains or buses that are all too often unreliable, I was therefore pleased to see a comprehensive £121m investment package that will modernise and improve our roads, rail and bus services. 

I firmly believe that is a budget for Wrexham and for Wales, driving down NHS waiting lists to get local people the appointments they need, investing in our future generations to give them the best chances to get on in life, supporting our local economies to deliver the growth that is so key to our nations success and firmly grasping the opportunities of the future. 

I know that one budget can’t make up for 14 years, but this is a clear signal of intent for what lies ahead and as your MP for Wrexham, I will advocate and stand up every day to ensure that our city gets what it deserves. 

Today marks Small Business Saturday, where we recognise and highlight the importance of small businesses to Wrexham. It is also the first since I was elected as your MP. As someone who got their start and proceeded to have a long and successful career in local businesses, I know just how important they are to our city and community.

When I think of our local businesses here in Wrexham, I think of independent shops such as Wrexham Trainer Revival, Ragazzi, and Alticci, as well as fantastic eateries like The Bank, Lisbon Tapas, Toast Cafe and Deli, and, of course, our local pubs and bars such as The Turf and Vault. Together, they provide more than just services; they play a vital role as the cogs that help keep our city running.

I am also under no illusions about the challenges businesses have faced over the past few years, however, I am glad that both in Cardiff and Westminster, the governments are firmly listening to and are on the side of small businesses. It is my hope that measures such as the £130 million of additional non-domestic rates support, alongside the existing small business rates relief, can provide businesses in Wrexham with the stability they need to succeed.

The Prime Minister has made it clear that the government’s number one mission is to kick-start economic growth, and I want Wrexham to be at the heart of this mission. Because when businesses succeed, communities succeed — creating jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets, and making real, tangible improvements in everyday life and living standards, not just statistics and graphs that do not always tell the whole story.

As your Member of Parliament, championing and supporting our small businesses will always be at the heart of my priorities, whether in Wrexham or Westminster. It is in this spirit that I encourage you, in particular this weekend, to get behind our local businesses here in Wrexham. Your support will truly make a significant difference to them all.

And to all small business owners: I know first-hand how tough it can be with long hours, tight margins, and small teams. But you help make Wrexham what it is, and our city would not be the same without you. So, from me, thank you.

Well its been a while since this website was last updated and a lot has changed. I set up this space back in 2022 before I was selected as the candidate to be Wrexham’s MP, and I’m happy to say that after years of hard campaigning, I was elected on the 4th of July 2024. This website will be updated with news about my work in Wrexham and Westminster, so please check back regularly for the latest news.

Off to Westminster for the first time as your MP 08/07/24