IS HAS been as busy as ever in Parliament recently, with a whole host of meetings in my role as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Europe and North America, as well as on constituency matters.

I continue to raise constituents’ concerns about the increasing cost of living, which is up for everyone, and I’m still chasing answers for residents of Hayes Point in Sully on when they will get their energy support payments.

The fact is that 12 years of Tory UK government have weakened the foundations of our economy and government, and left us exposed to shocks, lurching from crisis to crisis with falling living standards and low growth. Working people are paying the price for Tory failure.

Britain deserves so much better. Labour will provide the economic responsibility we need and bring forward a proper plan for sustainable growth across our country. It’s time for a change at the top and a General Election.

I recently joined Dogs Trust in Parliament to support their campaign against puppy smuggling, and to tell them about my visit to their local centre in Cardiff – I’m proud to have them in the constituency.

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday it was great to join Help for Heroes in Parliament to hear about their work and future plans for supporting veterans; to lay a memorial in the Speaker’s Garden of Remembrance; and to take part in the annual static Poppy Ride for the Royal British Legion.

In my Shadow role I had meetings with fellow Party of European Socialists/ Socialists & Democrats group representatives from across Europe, ahead of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. We had constructive and cordial discussions, and I was able to set out Labour’s progressive agenda while building new friendships, and discussing common challenges such as security and defence, climate change, energy security, the cost of living - and how to stand together against Russia’s barbarous war in Ukraine.

I met the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons and Canadian MPs, who were hosted by our Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle MP. It was a particular pleasure to talk about my own Canadian connections and the strong friendship between our countries.

I was also in Cavan, Ireland recently on a working trip with the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly where we discussed crucial issues including the situation in Northern Ireland, and the changes to our trade as a result of Brexit.