Sarah Murphy tops Labour’s Senedd candidate list for Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg

Latest polling suggests Labour are likely to secure two of the six seats in this constituency at the 2026 Senedd election.

Sitting Bridgend MS heads the slate

First on the list is Sarah Murphy, who has represented Bridgend in the Senedd since 2021. She previously worked as Head of Events for Welsh Labour, Research Analyst for Lee Waters AM, and Communications Manager for Anna McMorrin MP. Before her election she chaired Sustainable Wales, a Porthcawl‑based charity supporting community‑led sustainable development.

Former council leader takes second place

Second is Huw David OBE, the former leader of Bridgend County Borough Council between 2016 and 2024. He was awarded an OBE for public service and his contribution to local government in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2022.

Vale deputy mayor ranked third

Third on the list is Carys Stallard, a former BBC journalist who now serves as Labour councillor for St Brides Major on the Vale of Glamorgan Council. She is currently Deputy Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, chairs the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Advisory Group, and sits on the Place Scrutiny and Planning Committees.

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Trade union organiser joins the slate

Fourth is Jonathan Cox, a trade unionist and community organiser who founded Citizens Cymru Wales. A former adviser to David Miliband MP, he says he has worked with Mark Drakeford MS on the Real Living Wage in social care, with Jane Hutt MS to welcome Syrian refugees to the Vale, and with Carwyn Jones MS to introduce the Real Living Wage in Welsh Government.

Bridgend councillor takes fifth spot

Fifth is Jon‑Paul Blundell, a Bridgend councillor for the Cefn‑Glas ward. He chairs the Communities, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was previously Cabinet Member for Education.

Barry councillor and wellbeing champion ranked sixth

Sixth on the list is Helen Payne, a Vale of Glamorgan councillor for the Cadoc ward in Barry. She was previously Projects Manager for Llamau, supporting vulnerable young people. Payne is the council’s Mental Wellbeing Champion, chairs the Investigating Committee, and serves as Vice Chair of the Start Well Scrutiny Committee.

Former cabinet member joins at seven

Seventh is Rhys Goode, a councillor for the Nant‑y‑moel ward on Bridgend Council. He has served as Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning & Regeneration (2023–24) and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing & Future Generations (2022–23). Goode was Head of Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru from 2022 to 2024, and has held senior communications roles at Klana and JustGiving.

Porthcawl councillor completes the list

Eighth is Neelo Farr, a trade unionist and councillor for Porthcawl on Bridgend Council. She is Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, with a professional background as a mental health social worker.

Constituency boundaries

Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg is one of 16 new Senedd “super constituencies” created for the 2026 election. It combines the Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan parliamentary areas, covering major towns including Bridgend, Barry, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major, Pencoed and Porthcawl. The constituency will elect six Members of the Senedd under the new proportional voting system.

Electoral outlook

While Murphy heads the slate, Labour’s prospects in Pen‑y‑Bont Bro Morgannwg are limited. Polling suggests the party is in line for just two seats in this constituency, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK also competing strongly as Labour’s support edges back.

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Welsh Government proposes alcohol price hike — but not everyone’s convinced

The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation on proposals to raise the minimum unit price (MUP) of alcohol from 50p to 65p — a move it says could reduce harmful drinking and save lives. But while ministers point to positive research findings, critics warn the policy may hit vulnerable people hardest and question whether it’s working as intended.

The consultation, which runs until 29 September, asks whether the current pricing law should continue beyond its March 2026 expiry — and whether the price per unit should rise to reflect inflation and maintain its impact.

Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said the current 50p rate has been eroded by inflation and is no longer influencing the price of the cheapest, strongest drinks.

“Despite the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis and high inflation, independent evaluations have shown the policy has had a positive impact and helped reduce levels of harmful drinking,” she said.

What is minimum unit pricing?

Minimum unit pricing sets a legal floor price for alcohol based on its strength. In Wales, it’s currently illegal to sell alcohol for less than 50p per unit — meaning a three-litre bottle of strong cider, which contains around 22 units, must cost at least £11.

The policy targets cheap, high-strength drinks often consumed in large volumes by hazardous and harmful drinkers. It’s not a tax — the extra money goes to retailers and producers, not the government.

Wales introduced MUP in March 2020, following Scotland’s lead. The Republic of Ireland followed in 2022. England has yet to adopt the policy.

What does the research say?

Independent evaluations commissioned by the Welsh Government suggest the policy has had a broadly positive effect. According to modelling by the Sheffield Addictions Research Group, raising the MUP to 65p could reduce the number of hazardous drinkers by 6,300 and harmful drinkers by nearly 5,000, potentially lowering hospital admissions and alcohol-related deaths.

A five-year review by academics from the University of South Wales and Wrexham University found that:

• Retailers have largely complied with the law
• Cheap high-strength products have disappeared from shelves
• Alcohol consumption appears to have declined overall
• Predicted side effects like home brewing and cross-border shopping haven’t materialised widely

However, the same review also highlighted concerns. Some dependent drinkers reported skipping meals or bills to maintain their alcohol intake. Others switched to stronger drinks like spirits, narrowing the price gap and potentially increasing harm.

The researchers concluded that while MUP should be retained, it must be accompanied by better support services for those most affected.

What do critics say?

The Welsh Conservatives have labelled the policy a “failure,” pointing to a 50% rise in alcohol-related deaths between 2019 and 2023. Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS has called for a full review, arguing that the policy hasn’t delivered its promised outcomes and may be hurting vulnerable groups.

Charities and campaigners have also raised concerns. Alcohol Change UK supports raising the price to 65p but says more must be done to help people with alcohol dependency.

“Making alcohol more expensive isn’t enough on its own,” said director Andrew Misall. “We need to ensure those who are struggling get the support they need — otherwise, we risk making things worse for the most deprived communities.”

Iola Ynyr, a writer from Gwynedd who has spoken publicly about her battle with alcoholism, told the BBC that raising prices won’t change the behaviour of dependent drinkers.

“If someone’s addicted, they’ll find a way to get alcohol. It’s the families who suffer — people may cut back on food or essentials, especially if children are involved.”

What happens next?

The Welsh Government says MUP is just one part of a wider strategy to tackle alcohol harm, alongside prevention, treatment and recovery services. But the consultation will help determine whether the policy continues — and at what price point.

If the 65p proposal goes ahead, it would mark a significant increase in the cost of some drinks. For example:

• A bottle of wine (9 units) would cost at least £5.85
• A litre of vodka (37.5 units) would cost at least £24.38
• A four-pack of strong lager (8 units) would cost at least £5.20

The government says the change is needed to keep pace with inflation. The original 50p rate, set in 2018, is now worth just 39p in real terms, according to ministers.

The consultation is open to the public until 29 September, with responses helping shape future legislation. You can take part via the Welsh Government’s consultation portal.

#addiction #Alcohol #alcoholAddiction #AlcoholChangeUK #alcoholDependency #alcoholic #Beer #IolaYnyr #minimumAlcoholPricing #minimumUnitPrice #MUP #RussellGeorgeMS #SarahMurphyMS #Spirits #WelshGovernment #Wine

Minimum alcohol pricing in Wales shows mixed impact after five years — future of policy under review

Introduced in March 2020, just days before the pandemic, the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 set a 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol. The policy aimed to reduce alcohol-related harm by targeting cheap, high-strength drinks often consumed by hazardous and harmful drinkers.

The new operation and effect report, covering the first five years of the policy, draws on independent evaluations, a Senedd consultation, and survey research by Public Health Wales. It found that while implementation has been smooth and compliance high, the wider impact on consumption and health outcomes is more complex.

Key findings from the Welsh Government report

• Retailers have largely complied, with Trading Standards reporting just six fines across more than 3,000 inspections.
• Cheap, high-strength products like large bottles of white cider have largely disappeared from shelves.
• Overall alcohol consumption appears to have declined, though measuring this directly remains difficult.
• Unintended consequences, such as cross-border shopping or substance switching, have been minimal3.
• Some drinkers have changed habits, switching from cider to spirits or wine due to price shifts3.

However, the report also highlights concerns that low-income dependent drinkers may be sacrificing essentials like food and heating to maintain alcohol consumption3. Some support workers reported increased financial strain and use of foodbanks among this group.

Political and expert reaction

Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said: “The evidence suggests minimum pricing for alcohol has contributed towards its intended policy objectives. Overall, the operation and effect of minimum unit pricing has been broadly positive.”

She confirmed that the University of Sheffield’s Addictions Research Group has been commissioned to review whether the 50p threshold remains appropriate, with findings to inform a public consultation on the future of the policy.

Darren Millar MS, Welsh Conservative spokesperson, criticised the policy, saying: “It is resulting in people struggling with alcohol addiction going without food or heating to pay extra costs, and taking millions from the Welsh economy as people cross the border to shop for booze in England. It’s time to scrap this policy and focus attention on the inadequate investment in addiction services”.

In contrast, researchers from Wrexham Glyndwr University and the University of South Wales, who led the independent evaluations, recommended retaining the policy but raising the minimum price to 65p per unit to maintain its effectiveness1.

They also called for better-funded treatment services and acknowledged the disproportionate impact on low-income households, but argued this should not be a reason to abandon the policy.

What happens next?

The legislation includes a sunset clause, meaning it will expire in March 2026 unless renewed. The Welsh Government will now consider the Sheffield review and public feedback before deciding whether to continue, amend or end the policy.

A further public consultation is expected later this year, with Ministers pledging to keep the Senedd updated.

#Alcohol #Beer #DarrenMillarMS #minimumPricing #SarahMurphyMS #Spirits #WelshGovernment #Wine

Dementia hub achieves gold status after £140k upgrade

Located in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre, the hwb is now gold accredited by Stirling University Dementia Services Development Centre.

The accreditation follows a £140,000 Welsh Government-funded transformation from its Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF), which helped create a bespoke dementia-friendly space designed to meet the needs of those affected by dementia.

Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, who visited the hwb said: “Having a welcoming, purpose-designed space like the Swansea Dementia Hwb makes a real difference to people navigating what can be really challenging circumstances.

“As we prepare to mark Dementia Action Week this month, it was great to see how our investment has helped create a dementia friendly accessible environment, where hundreds of people can receive vital information and services all in a space specifically designed to meet their needs.”

The hwb has helped more than 7,000 people access information, providing crucial support to people concerned about their memory, those diagnosed with dementia, and their families.

Visitors can also access a range of services including diet and nutrition advice, respite activities, pet therapy sessions and Blue Badge applications.

Julie Samuel, 61, is a carer for her sister-in-law who has early onset dementia.

Speaking about the impact the hwb has had on her family, Julie said: “The hwb has been marvelous for us. When my sister-in-law got her diagnosis, we didn’t know where to go for information. We walked in one day, and the level of support we’ve had ever since has been great.

“My sister-in-law was given information on the stages of dementia, and we’ve all had emotional support through counselling and wellbeing breaks like yoga and pottery.”

Project Lead of the Dementia Hwb and founder of Dementia Friendly Swansea, Hannah Davies said: “We’re incredibly proud to have achieved gold status. This recognition reflects the hard work and passion of everyone involved. Our upgraded hwb is not just a space — it’s a lifeline for people living with dementia, their families, and carers.

“We are committed to ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels supported, understood, and valued.”

#dementia #DementiaHwb #SarahMurphyMS #Swansea #SwanseaQuadrant #WelshGovernment