Next week will be the first UK Labour conference as the party of government since 2009. I will be in Liverpool to connect with colleagues from across the country and chart a positive path for our decade of national renewal.

The mandate for change is clear and that begins with difficult decisions. We did not come into government wanting or expecting to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment but it was necessary to fix the in-year deficit left by the Tories.

Pensioners are anxious about cost-of-living pressures and I am determined to provide both clarity and support. We will work with Newport and Caerphilly councils to improve take-up of the Pension Credit, which in turn unlocks the winter fuel payment and other benefits. There will also be a national DWP campaign.

I am also proud to support Great British Energy, a new and publicly owned clean energy company which will cut energy bills for good and make us less dependent on dictators like Putin. This is a key part of Labour’s plan to fix the foundations and make working people and pensioners better off.

Of course, we have been knocking doors in Islwyn since the start of the year but it has been a privilege to meet residents and community figures as the constituency MP. In Risca, I have met with volunteers at the foodbank, at the museum, and Tesco’s community champion, Sarah, who helps to re-distribute meals and support local groups.

This week, I sat down with leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council leader Sean Morgan to discuss the proposed mothballing of Blackwood Miners’ Institute, which has been at the heart of the community for a century and still plays an integral role. I urged Cllr Morgan to take heed the results of the public consultation, which closed this week, and which I am sure makes clear the public support for the venue’s continuation.

I also visited Cwmcarn Forest Drive to learn about recovery efforts since the wildfire in 2018. It is a special place for my family and we must ensure future generations can enjoy it too. Next month, I am inviting Labour councillors and CLP members to the Forest so we can share our priorities for people in the constituency.

As the newly elected chair, I will bring this same focus to the Welsh Affairs select committee. With the right scrutiny and determination, I know Wales can be a fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous place to live.

I was proud to receive the Political Purpose Award for Animal Welfare in Parliament after supporting Bills to disrupt the puppy smuggling trade and ban the import of hunting trophies. Next month, I will present new legislation from the backbenches and after consideration this will be aimed at banning the import of animal cruelty products from overseas.