SWANSEA: Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi calls on Keir Starmer to step aside — as Swansea East’s Carolyn Harris backs him to stay

Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi has become one of dozens of Labour MPs calling on Keir Starmer to step down as Prime Minister — warning that the party now faces “the real possibility of a Reform administration” if it does not change course.

In a statement posted to social media, Antoniazzi acknowledged Starmer’s integrity and his record on international issues, including keeping Britain out of the conflict between the United States and Iran. But she said the election results had made clear he had lost the confidence of the country.

“The pace of change is not being felt quickly enough by the people of Gower,” she said. “Recent election results make clear that the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the country. Too much of our good work has been lost because we have not explained our policies clearly or brought people with us. When people do not understand what we are doing or why, they lose trust, and that trust is hard to rebuild.”

She warned that Reform’s rise posed a genuine threat that the current leadership could not meet. “We now face the real possibility of a Reform administration, a party that promotes Trump-style populism and exploits discontented people but is really about benefiting its wealthy backers. We need a Labour Party and a Government that are strong enough to stand up to that threat with delivery. I do not believe that Keir can lead that fight.”

She concluded: “For the sake of my constituents, for the Labour movement, and for the country, it is time for new leadership.”

The intervention puts Antoniazzi at direct odds with Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris, who posted a public statement backing the Prime Minister to continue in the role. Harris argued that a leadership contest would be “a distraction at a time when the country is facing serious challenges at home and abroad” and pointed to the government’s record on NHS waiting lists, workers’ rights and housing.

“This Government has already delivered real progress: NHS waiting lists have fallen for eight months in a row, workers’ rights have been strengthened, renters have been given greater security,” Harris said. “Keir Starmer should be given the opportunity to deliver the change we promised and get on with the job.”

The two local MPs find themselves on different sides of a rebellion that had grown to 85 Labour MPs by Tuesday morning, rising steadily since the party’s dismal performance in elections across the UK last week.

Labour suffered heavily across the board — losing control of more than 30 councils in England and around 1,500 councillors, while in Wales it was reduced to just nine Senedd seats, with First Minister Eluned Morgan losing her own seat. The scale of the collapse in Wales was particularly damaging for Starmer, with pollster Sir John Curtice having warned before the election that losing Wales would pose a greater threat to his leadership than any other result.

Starmer addressed the Parliamentary Labour Party on Tuesday in a speech that was greeted with a fresh wave of demands to step aside. He vowed not to “walk away” from Downing Street, saying: “This is nothing less than a battle for the soul of our nation.”

His speech was dismissed as “utterly inadequate” by one former minister, while ministerial aides to three cabinet ministers — including aides to the health secretary, home secretary and environment secretary — resigned their roles in protest.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Labour-backing union Unite, said Starmer’s speech had not “cut the mustard”, adding: “There isn’t a cat in hell’s chance that Keir Starmer’s going to lead us into the next election. It would be the death knell if that happened.”

Antoniazzi, who has represented Gower since 2017 and is a former Wales women’s rugby international, has a history of independent thinking within the party, having previously resigned as a Labour PPS in protest at the Brexit trade deal vote. She was born and raised in Llanelli and has been a vocal constituency voice throughout her time in Westminster.

Harris, who has served as MP for Swansea East since 2015, is one of the most prominent Welsh Labour voices in Westminster, having served as a minister in the Welsh Office and as a shadow minister on gambling reform.

Starmer has so far refused to announce a departure timeline, insisting he will not walk away. Whether that position is sustainable as the parliamentary rebellion continues to grow will become clearer in the days ahead.

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MPs accuse WRU of “stitch‑up” as political pressure intensifies over Ospreys’ future

The row has deepened over the past fortnight as the WRU presses ahead with plans linked to the proposed sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11 — a move that has left the Ospreys facing uncertainty beyond next season and triggered a wave of criticism from players, supporters and local leaders.

Swansea West MP Torsten Bell said he had held fresh meetings with both the WRU and Y11 in the past 48 hours and claimed it was now “clear” that the union was attempting to use Cardiff’s financial collapse to sideline the Ospreys from any future regional structure.

Torsten Bell said:

“It’s now clear that the WRU are trying to use Cardiff going bust to try to force the Ospreys out of professional rugby. They promised an open transparent process to decide which clubs would continue – but are trying to deliver a behind‑closed‑doors stitch‑up to prevent the Ospreys even being able to compete in that process.”

He said support was growing for an Extraordinary General Meeting of the WRU, warning that confidence in the union’s leadership was collapsing.

Torsten Bell said:

“Demand for an EGM is building as people see the chaos being driven by those who are meant to be stewarding our national game. It’s hard to see a way forward now that doesn’t involve a change in leadership at the WRU.”

His intervention follows weeks of mounting frustration across Welsh rugby. Ospreys players have already issued an ultimatum demanding clarity, while Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart has said legal options are being examined if the region is forced out.

Now Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris has added further pressure, calling the situation “deeply troubling” and urging the WRU to halt the process immediately.

Carolyn Harris said:

“It is deeply troubling that proposals are being advanced which would put the future of the Ospreys at risk, particularly when so much work has been done locally to support their move to St Helen’s and secure a sustainable future for top‑flight rugby in Swansea.”

She said supporters and players deserved transparency, not decisions “imposed without proper justification”.

Carolyn Harris said:

“The WRU should pause this process now. Decisions of this scale must be fair, transparent and clearly in the best interests of Welsh rugby as a whole. Supporters, players and communities deserve clarity and reassurance.”

The WRU has faced repeated criticism in recent weeks after senior executives were grilled by MPs in a stop‑start committee hearing that offered little detail on the Ospreys’ future. Ospreys coaches and players have also described meetings with union bosses as confusing and uninformative.

With political pressure now intensifying from both of Swansea’s MPs, the WRU is facing renewed calls to explain how the regional game will operate beyond next season — and whether the Ospreys will be allowed to remain part of it.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Players issue ultimatum as crisis deepens
Squad members demand clarity on the region’s future or will consider their options.

WRU bosses grilled by MPs
A tense committee hearing offers little detail on the Ospreys’ long‑term position.

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Swansea Council says all avenues are being explored to protect regional rugby.

Ospreys crisis deepens as MPs summon WRU chiefs and players accuse owners of “cowardly leadership

The Welsh Affairs Committee announced it will question WRU Chief Executive Abi Tierney and Chair Richard Collier‑Keywood in Parliament tomorrow, examining the proposal to cut the number of professional teams from four to three. Supporters’ groups from all four regions — including the Ospreys Supporters Club — will give evidence in a second panel.

It comes after our earlier reporting that Ospreys owners Y11 are believed to be the WRU’s preferred bidder for Cardiff Rugby, raising fears that the Ospreys could be wound up or relocated. Swansea Council has already confirmed it is examining legal options.

Current Ospreys players: “We have been left in the dark”

Ospreys hooker Sam Parry, speaking on behalf of the current squad, said players had received “no information” from either the WRU or Y11.

“We struggle to believe the most successful Welsh team to exist with the biggest history is on the brink of non‑existence,” he said.

Parry said the squad would continue to play for supporters:

“We will continue to play for the fans and for the people who have stood by the Ospreys over the years.”

Former Ospreys flanker Sam Cross: “No one has the courage to be honest”

Former Ospreys and Wales forward Sam Cross said players and staff were once again learning about their futures through media leaks rather than their employers.

“Knowing what it’s like to find out about your future via Wales Online, while being kept in the dark by the suits running the club,” he said, “once again, no one has the courage to stand up and be honest about what’s really going on.”

Cross accused Y11 of “cowardly leadership from day one”, adding:

“The real problem with Welsh rugby is people clinging to jobs, hiding in the shadows, and turning a blind eye just to stay on the gravy train.”

Supporters: “Not one ounce of empathy”

The Ospreys Supporters Club said the situation was “hugely concerning” and accused the WRU of showing “not one ounce of empathy for those affected.”

They criticised the lack of transparency from both the WRU and Y11 over the preferred bidder process.

“At this time we call on Y11 to address these concerns directly and without delay,” they said. “After a prolonged period of uncertainty culminating in this leaked news, the least our supporters deserve is a full explanation.”

Jonathan Davies CBE: “Wales need to keep four regions”

Wales legend Jonathan Davies CBE warned that cutting a region would damage the pathway for young players.

“Wales need to keep four regions whatever happens to bring the younger players through,” he said. “If we don’t get this right we could well end up in tier 2 for a long time.”

Davies said the Swansea Bay area — from Bridgend to Maesteg, Aberavon, Neath and Swansea — must not be left without a professional side.

“Can’t have no regional rugby in an area which has produced so many great players,” he said. “We need to embrace everyone.”

Carolyn Harris MP: “Clarity is essential”

Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris said her support for the Ospreys’ proposed move to St Helen’s “has not changed”, but urged the WRU and Y11 to end the uncertainty.

“At a time of growing uncertainty about the future of regional rugby, clarity is essential,” she said. “Supporters, players and communities deserve reassurance.”

She warned that prolonged uncertainty “undermines confidence in the game and risks pushing talent away from Wales.”

MPs to grill WRU chiefs as crisis reaches Westminster

The Welsh Affairs Committee says it will press the WRU’s leadership on every aspect of the proposed restructuring when they appear before MPs. The session will examine how cutting a professional team would affect the sport across Wales, whether the WRU’s plans genuinely support its long‑term objectives, and what the loss of a region would mean for supporters and communities who rely on elite rugby as part of their identity.

MPs are also expected to probe how changes at the top of the game could ripple down into community and grassroots rugby, including the WRU’s efforts to grow participation among women and girls. After questioning WRU Chief Executive Abi Tierney and Chair Richard Collier‑Keywood, the Committee will turn to supporters’ groups from Cardiff Rugby, Dragons RFC, Ospreys and Scarlets to hear directly how the proposals might reshape the regional system they represent.

The WRU first set out its restructuring plans in October 2025, including directly contracting players and coaches and creating a national academy to centralise the development of young talent. The governing body insists the reforms are designed to stabilise finances and improve performance, but the backlash now stretching from players to Parliament shows how fiercely contested the future of Welsh rugby has become.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Swansea East MP warning over unregulated weight-loss jabs

Ms. Harris, 65, who has lost nearly 10 stone on Mounjaro (a weekly jab that can help people shed up to 20% of their body weight over time), says she went to a GP to get her prescribed dosage, to ensure all the correct medical checks were done.

Mounjaro is currently only available on the NHS for those who are older than 18 and who meet strict criteria – they need to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher and four or more weight-related health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Ms Harris had private treatment after increasingly struggling to walk around her constituency and believes others opting to take weight-loss drugs should do so for health-related reasons.

“I started having difficulty [walking in Swansea]and had to stop a quarter of the way in,” she said.

Also, a factor for her to take the jabs would be after “relentless criticism” about her appearance from online trolls that would take a toll on her everyday working life.

“I felt how I looked or what I was wearing had become more important than my politics,” continued Ms Harris.

“I can be bolshie if I’m fighting for a cause or for someone else, but deep down I’m very sensitive.”

After 14 months on the medication, Carolyn says it has changed her life.

“I’m physically fitter, I have more energy, and I think better, which sounds weird, but I do because I don’t get tired so easily.

“I used to get a lot of aches and pains, and I don’t get the aches and pains now. Before, if I had to walk for long distances, I’d be filled with dread.”

The National Pharmacy Association recently voiced concerns about the surge in demand for the likes of Mounjaro or Ozempic and how people were turning to beauty salons or social media to get them.

In England, anyone prescribing weight-loss injections must be registered with the Care Quality Commission.

But in Wales, only doctors are required to register with the Welsh equivalent, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), meaning other healthcare professionals are not legally required to meet the same standards or be routinely inspected.

Some experts have described this as inadequate regulation, opening up an unsafe black market for such products.

“The people who elect to get these drugs from unlicensed places are playing Russian roulette with their lives,” she added.

“They don’t know what they might be injecting into themselves and that terrifies me.

“I made sure I went to a GP to get mine, rather than just going online, because I really wanted to make sure all the correct medical checks were done.”

Ms Harris said she has never spent more than £150 a month on her private prescription, but, like many of the 750,000 people in the UK who are thought to be using Mounjaro, she now faces paying hundreds of pounds extra a month. Her 15mg dose is increasing to £429 a month.

She has written to the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to ask for help for those who cannot afford the weight-loss jab.

In the letter, Ms Harris said the impact of the price rise was of “huge concern” and called on him to work with the manufacturers to “keep the cost for patients at, or near, the current level”. It would also “keep the NHS waiting list at a lower level,” she claimed.

In the letter, she explained the drug could be life-saving and save the NHS millions, with obesity currently costing the NHS £107bn each year.

It comes as thousands of NHS patients who could benefit from the weight-loss jab Mounjaro are missing out due to funding issues.

The Welsh government states that weight-loss treatments such as Mounjaro are prescription-only and should only be obtained and used in accordance with a prescription from a registered and appropriately trained healthcare professional.

“No one should purchase prescription only medicines other than from reputable suppliers such as registered pharmacies. Medicines obtained from unregulated sources pose a major risk to people’s safety.

“Healthcare professionals prescribing weight-loss treatments must act in accordance with the standards set by the respective professional regulatory bodies.”

Speaking on behalf of the British Medical Association (BMA) Dr Gareth Oelmann said:

“GLP-1 weight loss injections, and Mounjaro is just one of them, is a promising development for obesity management.

“But safe prescribing, clear commissioning, and robust patient safeguards must come as part and parcel of that wider rollout.”

Swansea disability group call for public meeting with Labour MPs over proposed benefit cuts

Swansea DPAC say they are not happy with the response they have received from local Labour MPs Tonia Antoniazzi, Carolyn Harris and Torsten Bell.

A spokesperson for Swansea DPAC said, “It’s like this everywhere in the country. Disabled people are trying to contact their Labour MPs about proposed disability cuts. At best, we get a ‘copy and paste’ standard letter with no engagement on any points raised. In Gower, most of us don’t even receive that. It’s obviously an order right from the top. It’s surreal.”

“We can’t get an answer. We also have serious concerns with the so-called ‘consultation’ process itself, and we do not have confidence that it will properly take our views into account. How can it be that there is one, and only one, public consultation meeting for the whole of Wales, and the most important proposals are entirely off the table for discussion?”

Swansea DPAC say they have written to their MPs, demanding a public debate, and have asked Labour-affiliated trade unions to instruct the three Swansea Labour MPs to attend.

The open letter says Swansea DPAC are “fighting against the brutal government attacks on the living conditions of disabled people and carers,” adding that “the government’s proposals go even further than the Tory plans, and have been overwhelmingly condemned by trade unions, charities, carers, and disabled peoples’ organisations.”

They are calling on the unions and the public to sign a letter calling for the three MPs to hold a public debate.

The group say that they are particularly keen to publicly debate Swansea West MP, Torsten Bell, who has defended the cuts on BBC’s Newsnight as a DWP minister, and who the group claim has “been quite rude”.

The Swansea DPAC spokesperson said about Torsten Bell: “From his keyboard, he has called disabled people “keyboard warriors” and a “burden”. We would like a “right of reply” – in person!”

The Swansea DPAC spokesperson added: “Instead of being talked about on TV, all we want is a fair debate, in public.” 

Swansea East and Neath MP, Carolyn Harris responded to Swansea Bay News saying the she “has or will be responding to all constituents who contacted regarding this issue, but a public meeting is problematic because of security issues”. 

A spokesperson for Swansea West MP, Torsten Bell told Swansea Bay News: “Torsten has been speaking to constituents concerned about the Government’s welfare reforms since the changes were announced in March. This is both on an individual basis at his regular surgeries, as well as meeting with disabled groups in Swansea West. Torsten continues to urge constituents who have been affected or concerned to get in touch with his office at [email protected] as he is more than happy to talk about this issue further. ” 

#benefits #CarolynHarrisMP #disability #featured #Swansea #ToniaAntoniazziMP #TorstenBell

The facility, Swansea Bay Asphalt, located just 5 minutes off junction 43 of the M4, is set to  enhance the region’s infrastructure projects and will supply high-quality asphalt for road  construction and maintenance projects across South Wales.  

An official opening ceremony was held on 20th September with Carolyn Harris, MP for Neath and  Swansea East, cutting the ribbon to declare the site open. She was joined by local business  leaders and customers of GD Harries who toured the facility.

The open day provided attendees  with a firsthand look at the plant’s advanced features and the opportunity to discuss its  potential impact on upcoming infrastructure projects. 

Nick Cleary, General Manager for GD Harries, said:

“We are excited to open this state-of-the-art asphalt plant in Swansea, bringing advanced infrastructure solutions to South Wales.

“This  investment reinforces our commitment to supporting local communities, creating jobs, and  improving the quality of roads throughout the region.” 

The new plant has been designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind, and is capable of  producing 140 tonnes per hour. 

Julian Smith, Head of Commercial for GD Harries, said:

“By utilising aggregates produced from  our own quarries, Swansea Bay Asphalt will minimise the environmental impact of road  surfacing projects by reducing transportation distances for raw materials.

“At the same time, it will increase the speed and availability of asphalt used for road resurfacing, along with the repair of potholes.”  

The facility incorporates the latest in asphalt technology and is an integral part of the company’s  sustainability objectives. As asphalt is highly recyclable, the plant is RAP-enabled (Reclaimed  Asphalt Planings).

Planings from worn-out road surfaces can be recycled and reused as  aggregate in new asphalt mixtures. This helps reduce landfill waste and lowers construction  costs. 

This new facility marks a significant milestone for GD Harries, which continues to expand its  operations to meet the growing infrastructure needs in South and West Wales. The plant’s  strategic location will enable faster, more efficient service to local authorities and contractors,  ensuring critical road projects are delivered on time and to the highest standards. 

[Lead image: GD Harries and Sons Ltd.]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/09/23/gd-harries-opens-state-of-the-art-asphalt-plant-in-llandarcy-swansea/

#CarolynHarrisMP #GDHarriesAndSons #Llandarcy