Tonia Antoniazzi and Henry Tufnell among 60 Labour MPs to back call banning social media for under 16s

The MPs have joined a growing push to ban all under‑16s from using social media, warning that children are being exposed to addictive platforms and harmful content on a daily basis.

The joint letter says that children are becoming “anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning” because of the sheer amount of time spent online.

The MPs point to research showing the average 12‑year‑old spends 29 hours a week on a smartphone, much of it on platforms they say are “designed to be addictive”. They warn that mental‑health referrals are soaring, with more than 500 children a day being sent for anxiety support in England alone.

The letter argues that the burden shouldn’t fall on parents, but on tech giants, who they say must be forced to enforce age limits properly.

The push follows a major move in Australia, where new laws now block under‑16s from having accounts on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Meta says it removed around 550,000 accounts in the first days of the crackdown.

The MPs say the UK risks “being left behind” unless it follows suit.

Alongside Antoniazzi and Tufnell, the other Welsh signatories are Ruth Jones (Newport West), Andrew Ranger (Wrexham) and Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire & Glyndŵr).

‘Transformational for our communities’: South West Wales MPs react to £214m Pride in Place funding

While Labour MPs hailed the investment as “transformational” and a “once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity”, opposition councillors in Bridgend voiced frustration that their county had received far less than neighbouring areas.

Swansea

Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said:

“We have won something rare – a massive, over £20 million, long‑term investment in Swansea. This is our chance for people to get involved in improving our city, from regenerating our city centre to boosting all our high streets.”

Tonia Antoniazzi, MP for Gower, added:

“Local people know their area better than anyone else and that is why the government has decided to do this differently. This is our chance to improve our area by making the big decisions for ourselves.”

Council leader Rob Stewart also welcomed the funding, describing it as “great to see this investment coming to Swansea” and urging that Wales must not be left worse off after Brexit.

Neath Port Talbot

Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberafan Maesteg, said the £20m for Neath Port Talbot was:

“A once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to invest in our communities. It will be up to all of us to decide how exactly this money is spent – not politicians in London, but local residents, right here in Aberafan Maesteg.”

Carmarthenshire

Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, welcomed the £20m for Carmarthenshire, saying:

“This £20 million of new funding will change lives over the next decade and be spent where local people need it most. Local people know their area better than anyone else and that is why the UK Labour Government has decided to do this differently.”

Pembrokeshire

Henry Tuffnell, MP for Mid & South Pembrokeshire, highlighted the £1.5m allocation as:

“A valuable boost for regenerating our local areas, and I’ll be working with Pembrokeshire County Council to make sure that money is used in the best way possible for our community.”

Bridgend

Chris Elmore, MP for Bridgend, announced:

“£3 million from the UK Labour Government for our communities – and you get to help decide how it’s spent. This is a huge opportunity to shape the future of Bridgend and Porthcawl together.”

But the award has drawn criticism locally.

Independent councillor Steven Bletsoe said:

“£3m is very welcome investment into our town centres and that money needs to be wisely spent. But how on earth are we getting eight times less than Aberavon and Maesteg? I simply cannot comprehend this.”

A spokesperson for the Bridgend Independent Group added:

“Of course we welcome an additional £3m but once again Bridgend gets treated less favourably than our neighbours. Maybe our MP should spend less time having photos taken and more time fighting for his constituency.”

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Politicians welcome progress on 72-home development in Saundersfoot

Work is progressing rapidly on a major housing development in Saundersfoot, where local politicians have welcomed the early signs of transformation at Persimmon Homes’ new 72-home scheme, Ger-y-Môr.

Set on land off Sandy Hill, the site received planning approval last year from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and promises a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom homes — including 35% earmarked for affordable rent and shared ownership. Persimmon hopes the development will not only ease pressure on the local housing list, but also support long-term regeneration by attracting families and boosting employment opportunities.

The design incorporates green technologies and ecological features such as solar panels, electric vehicle charging points, and rain gardens. There’s also a sustainable drainage system and wildlife-friendly landscaping to protect dormouse habitats and preserve existing trees and hedgerows. A play area is planned for the centre of the site, and the layout includes an active travel link back to Sandy Hill Road, with improvements to surrounding highways and footpaths also on the cards.

During a site visit this week, Mid & South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell and Cllr Chris Williams, who represents Saundersfoot South, were given a tour by Persimmon’s regional team and shown the early construction progress. The showhome, which they previewed, is set to open to the public later this summer.

“It’s a pleasure to visit a housing development like Ger-y-Môr, not only because of how it will provide new homes for local people, but also because housebuilding is so important to generating economic growth and providing good jobs,” said Mr Tufnell, praising the developer’s engagement with local priorities.

Cllr Williams echoed the sentiment, describing the project as a strong example of “collaboration between planners, developers and the community.” He added: “We need more affordable homes in Saundersfoot, and I’m pleased Persimmon has been able to deliver them here through a collaborative approach. I look forward to seeing the site completed and the positive impact it will have on our community.”

Persimmon Homes West Wales Managing Director Stuart Phillips said he was proud of the progress made since breaking ground earlier this year and welcomed the chance to host two “important community representatives.”

“We are committed to leaving a positive and lasting legacy in Saundersfoot and will keep Henry and Chris updated as we mark future milestones on site,” he said.

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