Senedd Member tells herself to ‘keep up the good work’ in curious Facebook post

A Member of the Senedd has told herself to “keep up the good work” in a curious post on her Facebook page.

Caroline Jones, a regional MS for South Wales West, gave herself the words of encouragement after sharing her own post.

Ms Jones entered the Senedd as a UKIP MS, left the party to become an independent, joined the Brexit Party, left that party over its anti-devolution stance to become an independent once more, and has since joined a group called the Independent Alliance for Reform.

The post on the Facebook page of the MS reads: “Well done Caroline keep up the good work” and it also includes an emoji of a thumbs up.

 

‘Over capacity’

Caroline Jones’ post concerned efforts to protecting the steel industry in Wales.

Indian conglomerate Tata, which owns the steel plant in Port Talbot has recently announced that Swedish firm SSAB had started talks over the acquisition of its Netherlands-based operations.

It has stated its intention to make its UK operations “self-sustaining”, and this has raised fears about the 4000 jobs at the plant.

Ms Jones said: “The steel industry is of strategic importance to our area and its future in Wales must be protected for the thousands of people who depend on it for their livelihoods.

“The global steel industry is facing over capacity, the high price of iron and the high supply of low-cost imported steel but the Welsh and UK Governments need to step up to the plate and do all they can to create the right economic and regulatory conditions to ensure that steel production can be self-sustaining.

“There may be a place for public subsidy or other financial support to create a sustainable business in Port Talbot and help weather the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic, but what the local MP for Aberavon forgets is that the UK is still subject to European state aid rules until the end of the Brexit transition process.

“The UK Government and Welsh Government must also ensure that the UK steel industry is supported and stop the practice of using cheap, lower quality imported steel in public infrastructure projects to support an industry which is of crucial importance to the communities here in Port Talbot and the wider region which I represent.”