July 2026

This month marked two whole years since I was elected as your MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire. It is the honour and privilege of my life to represent our community, and while I am so proud of the progress that we have made already, we must continue looking forward and delivering for Pembrokeshire.

We also welcomed a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. I am excited to support his vision and his commitment to deliver for every postcode across our county and country.

During this change of leadership, my focus has remained firmly centred on what matters most to you, my constituents. I have continued working in our community and championing your priorities in Parliament.

In the Community

Campaigning for Narberth’s Access to Cash

Over the past two years, I have been working hard to improve access to banking services right across our county. Everyone deserves local access to cash and banking, no matter where they live.

Narberth has recently seen both high street ATMs removed, leaving the town with just one remaining cash machine. Despite this, LINK, the organisation responsible for assessing community cash access across the UK, has concluded that Narberth's existing facilities are adequate. I have therefore, alongside Cllr Marc Tierney, launched a campaign to protect essential banking services and challenge LINK's decision.

We know how important reliable cash access is for local residents, visitors, and independent businesses, but we need community evidence to make our case. Please therefore take two minutes to complete the Narberth Access to Cash Survey by 7th August 2026. Every response will strengthen our argument and help protect essential banking services in the town.

Milford Business Circle

I had a very productive meeting with the Milford Haven Business Circle at Taste of Haven to discuss practical ways we can support our local economy and independent traders. We covered several key day-to-day priorities for local businesses – including parking, ongoing roadworks, and town signage. We also discussed major upcoming infrastructure projects, such as the new school and the railway station, and how these developments can best benefit the town.

Our high streets and local businesses are at the heart of our community. As your MP, I remain fully focused on driving local investment, championing independent traders, and helping our towns thrive.

Pembroke and Pembroke Dock ABC Boxing Club

It was great to visit Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Amateur Boxing Club again, to see more of the fantastic work they do for our community. I even had the chance to try wheelchair boxing and their virtual reality setup, which was brilliant fun and a genius way to get people involved.

I also caught up with the club’s Chair – Chris McEwen – about their continued work to help people across Pembrokeshire live healthier and more active lives, and shift societal attitudes towards disability. Grassroots clubs like this, and the dedicated people who run them, have such a positive impact on our local community. They provide inclusive spaces where people can come together, learn new skills, get active, and build confidence.

I will continue to support Pembrokeshire’s brilliant local sports clubs, and community champions like Chris whose passion and commitment help them thrive. 

WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1bHcT2m5c9/ 

Pembrokeshire Hogspital

I stopped by Pembrokeshire Hogspital, where Ginny, Russ and the team work tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate our county’s hedgehogs. Human threats have caused hedgehog populations across the county to drop drastically, making the need to protect them more important than ever.

It was amazing to see how our community has come together to support Pembrokeshire Hogspital through volunteering, as well as donating food and money.

Making our gardens safe spaces for hedgehogs, by creating ‘hedgehog highways’ in garden boundaries, leaving out food and water, or clearing any garden hazards, are measures we can take to help ensure they can survive and thrive in Pembrokeshire.

Please follow Pembrokeshire Hogspital’s Facebook page for regular updates on the work they are doing.

Bluestone Triathlon

I was delighted to complete the swim for the Elidyr Communities Trust relay team at the Bluestone Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon. It is a fantastic organisation that helps young adults with additional learning needs and disabilities build independence, confidence, and important life skills.

My cousin Ed did a brilliant job in his 11th year of participating in the event. I am so proud of him.

If you would like to support Team Elidyr, you can donate via their JustGiving Page.

Morrisons Pop-Up Surgery

One of the best and most important parts of my job as an MP is meeting with constituents and hearing about the issues that matter most to them. This month I held a pop-up surgery in Morrisons in Haverfordwest. It was great to speak to so many of you about a range of topics, including healthcare, migration, and the welfare system.

Listening to your experiences and concerns helps me better represent our community, and many of the discussions have given me important issues to follow up on and take forward.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and chat. I will be holding more supermarket surgeries like this over the summer, so please do come along if there is anything you would like to raise with me.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1428714575983901

Milford Carnival

I had a fantastic time at Milford Haven Carnival. It was a jam-packed day with floats, costumes, marching bands, and so many members of the community out and about. When Milford comes together, it is truly special. It was particularly special to spend the day there with my daughter, who absolutely loved watching the floats and even tried to climb on the stage.

A huge thank you to the Milford Haven Round Table for all their hard work in organising such a wonderful event for the town.

Costa

Thank you to Costa in Milford Haven for a very warm welcome this month. The café is a valued local employer, and the team could not have been more friendly. It was fantastic to see the impact of Milford Youth Matters, with Costa employing several team members through the charity.

From well-known chains like Costa to our fantastic independent cafes, Pembrokeshire’s hospitality sector plays a vital role in our local economy and communities. I will continue to support these businesses and the opportunities they create for people across the county.

Wavecrest Visit

I stopped by Wavecrest Café, which is a beautiful spot in West Angle Bay. I recommend it for fresh coffee, beautiful views, and the most fantastic staff. 

I also discussed the hurdles that Sean, Jade, and the team are facing in the hospitality sector. I want to enable local cafes to thrive, as they are such an important part of our community.

Flower Festival at St Tudwal’s

I very much enjoyed attending the flower festival at St Tudwal’s Church. This year's theme was Hollywood movies, and I was blown away by the incredible talent and variety of entries on display.

If you look closely, you might be able to see which film the flowers in the photo below represent...

In Parliament

Securing Pembrokeshire’s Future in Defence

In Parliament, I asked the Defence Procurement Minister to lay out what UK Government defence funding is being directed to Pembrokeshire. I was proud to hear that this government is backing our county and its people through the Welsh Growth Deal, DARC, and important support for local SMEs.

However, this month we have seen that the Welsh Government has taken decision-making powers away from Pembrokeshire County Council in relation to DARC, which puts at risk our country’s security and defence capabilities, our international alliances, and additional employment opportunities.

I will continue to fight for our county’s defence sector, as it is such a key part of Pembrokeshire’s DNA.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1494813188623864

Meeting the Prime Minister

I had the pleasure of meeting with the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.

We had a very productive discussion about Pembrokeshire’s top priorities: building a stronger local economy and delivering high-quality public services for our community.

I strongly support Andy’s commitment to driving growth across every postcode in our region, and I look forward to working closely with him to deliver for our area.

Supporting the energy sector

This month, I have continued to advocate for a just energy transition - one that keeps jobs and skills in Pembrokeshire, and protects the industries that have powered our country for decades. We must ensure that the transition strengthens our industrial communities rather than leaves them behind.

I spoke to Times Radio about what a more pragmatic approach to our energy policy would look like, in order to protect and benefit communities like ours.

I was also pleased to host a parliamentary reception this month celebrating Shell UK’s SkillsTransition programme. Pembrokeshire is home to one of the programme's first SkillsTransition Hubs, delivered in partnership with Pembrokeshire College, which is helping equip our local workforce with the skills needed for the industries of the future.

It was fantastic to bring together representatives from across the energy sector, alongside Energy Minister Michael Shanks, Pembrokeshire College and Dragon LNG, to discuss how industrial communities like ours can remain at the forefront of the UK's energy sector.

Backing British Cement

I had the privilege of speaking at the Minerals Products Association reception, bringing together industry leaders and politicians from across the political spectrum.

I highlighted the vital role the cement industry plays in delivering the infrastructure we rely on, from homes and hospitals, to transport and energy projects. A strong domestic cement sector is essential, not only for building the infrastructure we need, but also for supporting jobs, strengthening supply chains, and enhancing our national resilience.

UK cement producers, along with other energy-intensive industries, are facing high energy prices and carbon taxes that are putting them at a competitive disadvantage. I will continue to make the case for an energy and industrial strategy that supports our existing industries and ensures that domestic manufacturing can thrive.

Cross Border Healthcare

In the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, we published our latest findings on cross-border healthcare, and what we found is that patients are falling through the gaps between the English and Welsh healthcare systems.

Too many people across Pembrokeshire are being forced to travel great distances for care, only to face delays, data-sharing friction, and confusing bureaucracy where no one takes responsibility. It is shocking that a decade after these issues were first raised, patients are still facing the same hurdles.

Pembrokeshire residents deserve fast, reliable care. I'll keep fighting until everyone in our county has the healthcare access they need and deserve.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=992002113656463

Royal Welsh Show

It was a privilege to attend the Royal Welsh Show with the EFRA Select Committee. We met with representatives from the NFU, FUW and CLA, and discussed the critical role Pembrokeshire farmers play in producing the food we eat, as well as everything they do to support our local community. I am committed to supporting our farmers, as they are the backbone of our rural economy, culture and food production.

It was also great to see Ric Cooper from The Cleddau Project at the Royal Welsh. We discussed how we can work alongside local farmers to protect and restore the Cleddau – an issue I also spoke about with BBC Wales.

Improving Access to Driving Tests

This month I met with the Minister for Roads and Buses to discuss a number of issues that constituents have raised with me. We spoke about delays in the processing of medical evidence for driving licence renewals, and the impact this can have on people who rely on being able to drive for work and everyday life.

I also raised concerns about the shortage of driving test appointments in Pembrokeshire, and the challenges this creates for young people in rural areas who depend on driving to access employment, education and training opportunities.

The meeting was a valuable opportunity to discuss the steps being taken to improve the situation, and I pressed for continued progress in recruiting and training new driving examiners to help reduce waiting times and increase test availability locally.

That’s all for July!

I wish you all a very enjoyable summer.

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