August 2026
With Parliament in recess, this month has provided a welcome opportunity to spend extra time in the community, allowing me to gather valuable insights to guide my work for when I am back in Westminster.
I have had a busy month meeting with community stakeholders, assisting residents with their concerns, and attending a range of local events.
It has certainly been a hot August. I hope you all managed to safely enjoy the heatwave, perhaps with a trip (or two) to the beach!
Here is a selection of what I have been up to in our community this month:
St Thomas’ Surgery
Many of you have raised your concerns with me about how difficult and stressful it is to secure a GP appointment in Pembrokeshire, particularly at St Thomas’ Surgery. You have described long phone queues and unacceptable delays just to see a doctor, which is why I wrote directly to the surgery management team to ask what steps they are taking to address these issues.
While their initial response failed to treat the situation with the urgency it deserves, your continued support has forced them to engage. They have now agreed to meet with me so we can address these issues directly. This shows that when we come together as a community, we can hold local organisations to account.
I am currently gathering feedback ahead of this meeting. If you have experiences to share, please send them to me at henry.tufnell.mp@parliament.uk.
It is time for change at St Thomas’ Surgery.
Improving Our Local Playparks
Across Pembrokeshire, many of our playparks are in clear need of attention. A lack of adequate equipment means that too many children don’t have access to a fun, local place to play.
I have secured UK Government funding to address this, ensuring playparks across the county receive much-needed investment.
This month, I visited several sites, including Memorial Park, Monkton Park, St Katherine's Park, Trafalgar Road, and Towns Moor Park. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to speak to me about the improvements they want to see in their parks, and to all those who have shared their suggestions for parks across the constituency via email and social media.
I have shared your ideas with the council and will be meeting with them soon to finalise our decisions on how best to use the available funding. I will keep you updated.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Visits the Port of Milford Haven
I was delighted to welcome the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Wales, and Huw Thomas MS to the Port of Milford Haven to show how Pembrokeshire powers the UK.
With an oil refinery, a gas power station, two LNG terminals, and two fuel storage facilities, our port provides around 20 per cent of the country's energy needs.
I made it clear to the Chancellor that Pembrokeshire must continue to play a key role in our energy mix and receive strong support from the UK Government to grow.
I will keep making the case in Parliament to safeguard existing skilled jobs, help deliver new employment, and strengthen our national energy security.
Pembrokeshire County Show
The Pembrokeshire County Show is always a highlight of the summer, so it was great to attend both days this year.
The show captures what our county is all about: our farming heritage, our local food businesses, and our many dedicated charities.
It was a busy two days, hearing from lots of local residents, businesses and organisations about how I can best support them as their MP.
I was also able to meet with the Chief Exec of Welsh Water, and I took this opportunity to raise your concerns about environmental performance, rising bills, and drought preparedness with him directly. I will continue to hold Welsh Water to account until we see real improvements.
I want to extend my thanks to the hard-working volunteers and organisers for making the show happen. I am already looking forward to next year!
Ceasing Trade with Illegal Settlements
Many of you have been in touch to raise your concerns about the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence against Palestinians.
This month, I took your concerns directly to Government. I wrote to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, urging the UK Government to halt trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank. These settlements actively undermine a two-state solution and constitute a clear violation of international law.
The UK Government must not facilitate trade that supports these illegal settlements and compromises the fundamental rights of Palestinians.
I will continue using my voice to call for an end to this humanitarian crisis.
Pembrokeshire Business Drop-in
Supporting our local businesses and enabling them to thrive is one of my top priorities as an MP, so I made sure to be at the Bridge Innovation Centre to attend the Pembrokeshire business drop-in event.
A range of businesses from across the county attended, providing a great opportunity to hear from them about the challenges they are facing. I will be feeding these concerns back to Government ministers, to make sure that the interests of our local businesses are heard at the highest level.
It was also valuable to let businesses know what UK Government support may be available to them, such as the British Business Bank and UK Export Finance, to improve their access to capital.
We also discussed the importance of getting young people into work and how initiatives like the Youth Job Guarantee scheme benefit both young people and local businesses.
I look forward to attending another business drop-in soon to speak with new and returning businesses.
Milford Business Circle
I had a very constructive meeting with the Milford Haven Business Circle at Captures Soul Photography and Design Studio to discuss practical ways we can support our local economy and independent traders.
We discussed the current hurdles for local businesses on the high street, how upcoming infrastructure projects can benefit local businesses, and what Milford Haven should look like in the long-term.
I will continue to engage with the Business Circle and do everything I can to help Milford Haven thrive.
The Hive
I had a great evening visiting The Hive in Haverfordwest. This brilliant community organisation does so much to support young people in the area, providing a place for them to socialise, take part in activities, and build their confidence. It was great to see the work firsthand, and the positive impact it is having on the whole community.
I really enjoyed speaking with some of the young people there and hearing their ideas for improving their local area.
Thank you to Cllr Tinley and the team for their warm welcome and ongoing commitment to this fantastic organisation. I look forward to visiting again in term time.
Skomer Island
Our county is home to so much beautiful nature and wildlife, particularly Skomer Island which is recognised internationally for its unique birdlife.
This month, I visited the island with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales to review their ongoing conservation work. Things were looking very positive, with puffin counts rising by 8,000 compared to last year.
The island also supports a population of roughly 350,000 Manx shearwaters, some of which I was able to see as they prepared for their seasonal migration to South America.
My thanks go to the researchers, volunteers, and staff who do so much to protect and steward this important nature reserve.
Morrisons Pop-up Surgery
My pop-up surgery in Morrisons in Haverfordwest was a fantastic opportunity to speak to lots of local residents. It is always so valuable to hear directly from my constituents about the issues that matter most to them, whether that’s healthcare, migration, employment or the welfare system.
I would like to thank the team at Morrisons for welcoming me and for all the support they provide to families during the summer holidays and all year round.
I look forward to holding my next pop-up surgery soon.
Greenacres Rescue
I paid a visit to Greenacres Rescue to see the brilliant work Mikey and the team are doing to rescue and rehome animals across Pembrokeshire.
Speaking directly with Mikey and understanding more about their day-to-day operations helps inform my parliamentary work, particularly given my role on the EFRA Select Committee and the work we do on animal welfare.
My thanks go to everyone at Greenacres for their tireless dedication to protecting local animals.
Windswept Watersports
I spent a morning in Dale visiting Windswept Watersports ahead of their 24-hour watersports challenge fundraiser.
Pembrokeshire offers impressive inclusive sporting opportunities, and Windswept is a brilliant example of this. During my visit, I saw firsthand how the team breaks down barriers to ensure outdoor activities are accessible to everyone in our community.
I am grateful to Sarah and the entire team for their hard work and dedication. A big congratulations to everyone who took part in the 24-hour challenge and helped make it such a successful event!
Pembrokeshire Pride
I had a valuable meeting with Pembrokeshire Pride, where I heard firsthand from local LGBTQ+ community members about how I can best support them as their MP.
We discussed a range of important issues, including tackling hate speech, safety for trans people in public spaces, and the social media landscape.
I would like to thank Pembrokeshire Pride for welcoming me and speaking so openly about their experiences. I look forward to meeting with them again and delivering positive change locally for our LGBTQ+ community.
A big thank you to the Torch Theatre for hosting the conversation.
Great Council Bake Off
I had a lovely time at the Milford Haven Youth Council’s Great Council Bake Off.
As one of the judges, I sampled a wonderful variety of bakes, and every single one tasted amazing. A big well done to everyone who took part, and congratulations to this year’s winners, Melissa and Chris.
It was great to meet with all the youth forums at the event who do such important work supporting our young people.
Judging was such an enjoyable role that I would be more than happy to do it again next year!
That’s all for August!
As the new term begins, I wish all students, teachers, and school staff the very best for the upcoming school year.
My office and I are always here to support you, so please feel free to drop me an email at henry.tufnell.mp@parliament.uk if there is anything I can help with.
Best wishes,
Henry
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