Catherine Fookes MP

I hosted another in-person surgery in Abergavenny last week - it was great to speak with residents and see how I can support them with the issues they’re facing.

If you have a specific issue you think I can help with, please get in touch. 🤝

JOIN MY TEAM: I’m looking for a Caseworker to help me support residents across Monmouthshire.

If you'd like to learn more and apply, click here 👉 www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.a...

I am appalled & horrified by the shameful act of terror in Manchester.

My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected.

That it took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes this tragedy even more painful.

We must not let hate win.

If you live in the Monmouth area, come grab a coffee and have a chat with me! ☕

I’m hosting my first ‘Coffee with Cath' session in Monmouth on Wednesday 8th October, 11:00am – 12:30pm.

👉 Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1688726679959...

Or call/email my office and we’ll add you manually.

It was great to meet with @catherinefookesmp.bsky.social at #Lab25 and discuss the challenges in diagnosing leukaemia earlier in Wales.

Should’ve gone to Specsavers? Well, I actually did! 👓

I recently popped into my local Specsavers in Monmouth to meet Louise and Emily, the owners and local residents who run the branch.

It was great to catch up with them and the team and hear how business is going.

Flipping Welshcakes at Castell Coffi – the home of Millie’s Welshcakes! 👩‍🍳

During a recent meeting, I had the pleasure of meeting Ian who run's this fantastic coffee shop with his family in Caldicot.

The welshcakes - as many of you know - are incredible!!

I recently met with Network Rail, Transport for Wales & Department for Transport to discuss greater investment in rail in Monmouthshire! 🚆

I raised:
✅ Magor Station
✅ Chepstow station accessibility
✅ Severn tunnel junction car park link up
✅ Extending pay as you go
✅ More trains

BIG NEWS: £1.5 million secured for Monmouthshire! 💰

I’m delighted to announce that Monmouthshire will benefit from £1.5 million of new funding through the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme.

My monthly newsletter is being sent out soon, subscribe to make sure you don't miss it! 📬

Sign up 👉 bit.ly/CatherineEma...

I’m very pleased that the UK Government has formally recognised the State of Palestine.

I recently joined over 220 MPs in calling for this. Recognising Palestine is essential to protecting the viability of a two-state solution, and bringing an end to this dreadful humanitarian crisis and conflict.

In Parliament, I asked the Women and Equalities Minister when the Government will bring forward the total ban on conversion therapy.

Since raising this question I was pleased to also meet with the Minister who assured me that plans are progressing on this.

Last night I was proud to vote for the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation:

✅ Day one rights to parental and bereavement leave
✅ Ending exploitative zero-hours contracts
✅ Strengthening statutory sick pay

This is the difference a Labour Government makes.

Great day at the Usk Show this weekend! 🐑

It was lovely to meet so many of you and look around all the fantastic stalls.

I also had meetings with FUW & NFU to talk sustainable farming scheme, Inheritance tax, bluetongue and issues caused by the extremely dry weather we’ve had.

Llongyfarchiadau to the new landlords of The Star in Llanfihangel Tor y Mynydd! ⭐🍺

This used to be my local when I first moved to Monmouthshire 25 years ago so I was delighted to be there on opening night recently.

It's extra special to see it revived by the fantastic local community!

Love the Dell Vineyard! ☀️

Glad to see all their hard work paying off - well done everyone the summer.

Great atmosphere, wonderful pizzas & Hive Mind drinks!! 🍕

Glad to see all their hard work paying off - well done everyone.

Hi Seán, I'm sorry you haven't received a reply yet! I have/and continue to reply to hundreds of emails from residents on Gaza and I'm trying my best to get through them all. I have found and flagged your email and will respond to you shortly.

Diolch to everyone who came to my advice surgery in Caldicot on the weekend. 🤝

Thanks for raising the issues you did - my team and I will follow up and get back to everyone.

I’ll always do my best to help out and please get in touch if you’d like a future surgery appointment.

On my recent visit to Nevill Hall hospital, I also stopped by the very friendly 'Nevill Hall League of Friends Coffee Shop' ☕

They raised an incredible £103k last year for vital equipment for the hospital!

If you’re interested in supporting too, they’re always looking for more volunteers.

🚨 The UK government is testing the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm. Compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert, make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate. You will not need to take any action.

Find out more at gov.uk/alerts

It was fantastic to visit the new Velindre Radiotherapy Unit at Nevill Hall Hospital!

This state-of-the-art facility is already treating patients locally, meaning people no longer have to travel all the way to Cardiff for important cancer treatment.

Great to join Monmouthshire Housing Association and local councillors – including Cllr Sara Burch, Cllr Angela Sandles and Cllr John Crook – on site at Rockfield Farm in Undy 🏡

This exciting development will deliver 32 affordable, energy-efficient homes for local people!

I stopped by Rogiet Community Hub recently, where the community gather every Wednesday at the village hall for tea, coffee, and bacon baps (which are to die for!!) ☕

I also got a sneak peek at the site of their brand-new hub - I can’t wait to come back when it officially opens!! 👏

Chepstow Train Station must be accessible for all. 🚆

Despite major refurbishment works, the station will still lack the most basic accessibility.

➡️ Next steps: I’ll be meeting again with Network Rail in September and pressing UK Government Ministers to secure funding for an accessible bridge.

Staying the course | Fabian Society Fabian Society

At next years Senedd elections, we need to ask the people of Wales a simple question: do you want to throw away all the progress we are making, all the values we hold dear in Wales, the birthplace of the NHS, to risk it all on Reform – a party that wants to charge you to see a doctor?

I recently visited a family-run farm in Undy to hear more about the pressures facing local farmers.

I’ll be raising these points directly with the Treasury and DEFRA – and I’ll keep doing everything I can to make sure Monmouthshire farmers’ voices are heard loud and clear in Westminster.

Thank you to everyone who stopped for a chat at Tesco in Chepstow today! 🛒

As your MP, I want to be as accessible as possible – which is why I’m holding surgeries in places like supermarkets, so I can meet you where you are.

My team and I will make sure to follow up on everything raised.

Wonderful to see the annual Tregare scarecrow competition back again - this years theme is musicals!! 🎶

What you can’t see on the photo is the actual water spray from a hosepipe on the “Singing in the rain” entry which is a fabulous touch.

The judges will have a very hard job this year!

The View From Westminster With Catherine Fookes I became an MP to help people, and that’s what I’ll keep doing every single day. Since being elected last year, my team and I have responded to over 9,000 queries and helped resolve more than 1,000 individual cases.

"My biggest responsibility as your MP is supporting the residents of Monmouthshire, and only by being accessible and on the ground can I effectively achieve that."

Read my latest column below! 👇

Some throwback photos from Cllr Phil Bowyer’s Civic ceremony – congrats Phil, you'll no doubt make a fantastic Mayor!! 👏

And llongyfarchiadau also to Bryony Nicholson Deputy Mayor.

Was great to also see Maddie and her husband Mohammed from the Monmouthshire Muslim Association.

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