PEOPLE finally had the chance to have their say on 14 years of Tory government in Westminster, writes Joyce Watson MS.

The results were conclusive, and the new government under Keir Starmer’s leadership has hit the ground running. They are striving to earn your trust, whether you voted for them or not. They are working closely with the Welsh Government to deliver a better future for the people of Wales.

Congratulations to Stephen Witherden, the Labour MP for the new seat of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, and to the other new MPs. I am looking forward to developing a real partnership with Stephen to meet the challenges which face mid Wales.

Commiserations to all unsuccessful candidates in these elections – I know how bruising they can be.

OTHER NEWS: 

I visited many local communities during the campaign, and it was useful to talk to so many of you on the doorstep.

Some villages with busy through roads and limited pavements welcomed last year’s move from default 30 mph to 20, for safety reasons. A consultation is ongoing about how the changes affect your community, so do have your say through your council.

In the Senedd, I recently asked the minister about the latest road collision data, which showed a marked decrease in collisions in 20 and 30 mile per hour zones across Wales. They were the lowest on record outside the Covid pandemic period, with police reporting almost a quarter less road collisions than before the pandemic.

Insurance company Esure has seen a 20% drop in claims for car accidents in Wales since the new speed limit was introduced. This demonstrates the benefits from lower speeds - not only reducing casualties and danger, but also providing a benefit to drivers in reduced insurance claims.

I took the opportunity to call on other insurance companies to follow Esure’s lead and monitor this. If the downwards trend continues, I will lobby them to offer lower premiums to people with Welsh postcodes.

The Royal Welsh Show is nearly upon us, and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs has made further changes to TB testing in Wales.

This follows consultation with the farming industry, vets and others involved in the programme for eradicating Bovine TB in Wales. The changes have been made to simplify procedures without compromising risk of disease spread.