Column: Brexit Bill, Property Tax and Mondi – Updates from Alyn & Deeside MP Mark Tami

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami will be writing a regular column on Deeside.com with updates on his work in Westminster and closer to home.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mark writes: The last fortnight has been busy both in Westminster and in Alyn & Deeside.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In parliament the procedural work to get the new session up and running continues, along with some key votes on the Brexit bill. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Before the election I voted against it, because the deal is a bad one for manufacturing jobs in Alyn & Deeside which we depend on, and for peace in Northern Ireland. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Whilst I have always said I will support a Brexit deal which protects these, Boris Johnson’s deal puts both at risk. It was a bad deal in November and it’s a bad deal now. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Locally in the last week, I have done a roving surgery in Saltney, visiting residents in their homes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

My next scheduled surgery is Saturday 18th January at 9.15-10.15 in Rivertown church in Shotton then at 10.45-11.45 at Connah’s Quay Labour Club. Anyone is welcome to come to either surgery if I can be of any help with any issue. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

I was delighted to welcome Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leadership candidate, to Connah’s Quay last Friday and I have nominated him for Leader and Angela Rayner for Deputy Leader. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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The event was well attended and his points well received. Supporters of Labour can join the party until next Monday (20th January) to have a say in the leadership election. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

I have also written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask him to consider waving taxes when someone is moving house due to disability or illness, after being contacted by a constituent in this situation. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This would be similar to the support given to first-time buyers and seems like a fair and reasonable thing to do. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

I will return to this issue in a future column when I receive a reply. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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I have also raised concerns with Mondi, the packaging producer on Deeside Industrial Park, about their proposed closure of the plant with the loss of 160 jobs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

I will be raising this issue with the Welsh Government’s Economy Minister, Ken Skates, and I call on Mondi to avoid taking any decisions which will affect their committed and hard-working employees. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

My office stands ready to help anyone who has been affected by this or any other issue and can be contacted on 01244 819854. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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