Last week it was announced that a new offshore wind farm has been secured off our coast in North East Wales which will mean more skilled jobs and opportunities across our area, alongside playing a part in unlocking our country’s renewable energy potential. The Awel y Môr development will support skilled jobs in our corner of the country and comes on the back of the Port of Mostyn getting the go-ahead last year for a major expansion that will create hundreds of jobs – I’ve long championed the port and the potential it brings since first being elected in 2016 and I’ve also made the case for the re-opening of Mostyn railway station alongside it.

The Awel y Môr project is expected to create around 2,000 jobs during the construction phase, including in the supply chain, and an additional 50 roles are expected to support delivery with renewable energy firm RWE, which has secured the necessary funding through Contracts for Difference (CfD), the UK Government’s main mechanism for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation. All this comes on the back of the Welsh Government’s investment in the skills that sit alongside this, such as Coleg Llandrillo’s Wind Turbine Technician Apprenticeship. You can read more about the project at www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyw8n22gwno.

X’s AI tool, Grok, has been in the news in recent days and last week I raised serious concerns in the Senedd about the reports of some deeply disturbing and unacceptable sexualised images – something I have brought up in the Siambr on numerous occasions. The creation and sharing of sexualised, violent fake images of women is technology-facilitated violence and abuse – and X’s response appeared to be to only make it available to paid subscribers, making the abuse of women a premium service. In the Senedd, I asked the Welsh Government for an update on its approach to X and how Wales’ Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence strategy will tackle online harms. We must call this out for what it is and act to protect women and girls – you can see many of my contributions in the Senedd on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.

During the week I contributed in the Senedd in my capacity as Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee on the general principles of the Member Accountability and Elections Bill, currently making its way through the Senedd. The Bill not only seeks to strengthen the standards system we have in place in the Senedd, but it will also bring in the ability to recall and replace members whose behaviour has fallen far short of the standards expected of them – this will give the ultimate say to the people who elected us to serve in the first place.

Getting the processes right is central to building trust in our politics and politicians – something that has been seriously eroded in recent years – and that’s why I welcome what this new law will do to strengthen our standards system. It is a privilege to have been elected to serve the community that shaped me and with that privilege comes a responsibility to play our part, not simply in the way we conduct ourselves and the contributions we make, but in resolving to strengthen our politics through the processes we put in place.

It’s not every Friday that you can start the day joining in with singing songs like ‘Wheels on the Bus’, but that’s what I got to do last week with the fabulous children and staff of Roots and Wings in Holywell. It was lovely to spend time with the dedicated team there and to have a tour to see for myself the excellent, supportive and friendly environment they have nurtured for all those in their care. They are also very much committed to the local community and local residents in the area. I look forward to working with Roots and Wings to support them to expand their work and offer to our community.

Finally, local residents could be entitled to more support with the cost of living than they are currently getting. Since 2020, more than £10.5m has been put back into people’s pockets, meaning support with bills, daily expenses and debt – thanks to the Welsh Government’s Claim What’s Yours campaign. Just one call will tell you all you need to know about what you’re entitled to and how to get it – call Advice Line Cymru for free on 0800 702 2020.

As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales. You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait for an advice surgery.