Tonia Antoniazzi backs national call for safer lorry parking on behalf of local truck drivers16/3/2026
 Tonia Antoniazzi MP has welcomed the announcement from the Labour Government that ground rents will be capped at £250 a year. She said this step is long overdue and will make a real difference to leaseholders across Gower.
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, confirmed the new cap as part of a wider package of measures designed to strengthen protections for leaseholders. Ms Antoniazzi said the change will bring much needed relief to families who have faced unfair and escalating charges for many years. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said ”I have met many constituents who own leasehold properties, and their biggest concern is they feel like they are being taken advantage of because the system lacks accountability and fairness. This cap will save some families hundreds of pounds each year and finally brings an end to one of the most unfair aspects of the leasehold system. This is especially important here in Gower, where many leaseholders have struggled with unreasonable terms and rising ground rents. Labour is delivering the change that people voted for." Tonia also welcomed the Government’s commitment to stop the creation of new leasehold flats. This delivers on Labour’s manifesto promise to bring an end to the outdated leasehold model. Tonia Antoniazzi MP added "This support for leaseholders and help with the cost of living comes after many years in which the Conservative Government failed to act. The Green Party did not mention leasehold reform in its manifesto at all. Only a Labour Government is delivering the meaningful improvements that homeowners in Gower deserve." Alongside the cap, the Government has published the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. This legislation will strengthen the rights and protections of more than five million leaseholders. The Moving to Commonhold consultation has also been launched to give residents and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the next stage of reform. The announcement builds on the recently passed Renters Rights Act and on Labour’s planning reforms, which aim to ensure that everyone has a home that is safe, secure, and affordable. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said "This is good news for homeowners. We are capping ground rent at £250. That means that if you are a leaseholder and your current ground rent is higher than £250, you will pay less. Many people have told me this change will save them hundreds of pounds. This matters because the cost of living remains the most important issue facing people across the country. We promised that we would take this action, and I am very pleased that we are now delivering on that promise." Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said "People who own flats can be forced to pay ground rents that rise to completely unaffordable levels. We said that we would support leaseholders, which is why we are introducing the ground rent cap. This will save money for millions of leaseholders and give them more control over their homes. The leasehold system has damaged the dream of home ownership for many people. We are taking action where previous governments failed by strengthening home ownership and bringing an end to leasehold." Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Labour MP for Gower, said "This is excellent news for leaseholders in Gower who have been trapped in an unfair system for far too long. The Conservative Party promised to fix this problem in 2017 but failed to act. I am proud that the Labour Government is taking real action after years of Conservative inaction. When I stood to be your MP in July 2024, our manifesto promised this reform. I am delighted that this protection for leaseholders is now being delivered."  Tonia Antoniazzi MP has welcomed the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy, with its clear commitment to ban trail hunting and take further action to end puppy smuggling.
The strategy published by the UK Labour Government delivers some of the strongest animal welfare reforms in a generation, including a ban on trail hunting which addresses growing concerns that the practice has been used as a smokescreen for the illegal hunting of live foxes with dogs. More than 20 years after the Hunting Act came into force, the ban will help ensure wildlife is properly protected and the law is enforced as intended. The Strategy also builds on recent legislation to end puppy smuggling, which has targeted unscrupulous traders and helped prevent the import of underage, heavily pregnant or mistreated dogs. Many of these reforms follow progress already made in Wales, which has led the way on animal welfare in recent years. Measures such as banning electric shock collars and taking a tougher stance on animal cruelty have helped raise standards, and the new Strategy ensures England moves closer to those higher protections. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said “Banning trail hunting is long overdue. For too long it has been used to undermine existing protections for wildlife and skirt the fox hunting ban, and I’m proud to support action that finally closes that loophole. “I also strongly welcome the continued crackdown on puppy smuggling. These practices cause immense suffering and have no place in a modern society. “Wales has shown real leadership on animal welfare, and it’s right that these reforms help bring England up to speed, so animals are protected to high standards wherever they live.” The Government will work with animal welfare organisations, enforcement bodies and local communities to deliver the Strategy in full by 2030. Michael Webb, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Battersea said, "Battersea welcomes the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy. The reforms laid out in the Strategy will address some of the key issues that we as a charity have been campaigning for over many years, including regulating the rescue sector, tackling bad breeding practices and putting an end to puppy smuggling. “There is clearly still a lot of detail to work out, and the Strategy does not claim to tackle every problem animals face. However, Battersea is hopeful that it will be the catalyst for real, lasting change and ultimately make a brighter future for animals across the country. We look forward to working alongside the Government to ensure these promises are implemented effectively and ultimately safeguard the welfare of dogs and cats.”  Tonia Antoniazzi MP for Gower has welcomed the passing of the Labour Government’s landmark Employment Rights Act, which introduces the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation and brings protections into the 21st century.
The new legislation delivers a series of transformative measures including:
 • 500 service personnel in Wales will benefit from Labour’s Christmas travel support
• Thousands of journeys home funded by the Labour Government to help reunite families • Delivering on Labour’s promise to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve £27m in government funding goes live for local bids, turbocharging network of recognised VALOUR hubs.
• First Veterans Strategy in seven years will transform government support for our heroes and recognise their invaluable contribution across the country • Developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the Armed Forces Covenant, the new strategy also commits an additional £12m to tackle veteran homelessness As part of the Labour Government’s new Veterans Strategy, veterans support centres will be rolled out across the country. The new centres, which could be on the high street and in community centres, will help improve local veterans’ services. The centres will fundamentally transform how assistance is provided, offering the first coordinated national network of support centres. They will offer guidance and support in health, housing and employment, and may extend to finance, wellbeing, and integration into society. This comes alongside the Labour Government’s recent Defence Housing Strategy which sets out the biggest renewal of military housing in over half a century. Over 40,000 military homes will be upgraded and modernised, including 800 homes in Wales. The new VALOUR centres are just one part of Labour’s new Veterans Strategy, the first such strategy in seven years. This will transform government support for the 3654 veterans in Gower and renew the nation's contract with those who serve and have served, recognising their invaluable contribution across the country. Developed alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the Armed Forces Covenant, the new strategy commits an extra £12m to the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme and extending Op FORTITUDE - putting the service that has already housed over 1000 veterans on a sustainable footing. These programmes will deliver three years of support services for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, fulfilling the Prime Minister's pledge that homes will be there for heroes. Delivering on the government's Plan for Change, the new Veterans Strategy recognises veterans as national assets, whose unique skills strengthen communities, boost the economy and enhance national security. The strategy is built on three priorities: celebrating those who have served, harnessing veterans' skills, and ensuring effective support for those who need it. The strategy, like the Armed Forces Covenant, applies equally across the UK. It has benefitted from the input of veterans and organisations in every nation and region - across the public, private and third sector. Announcing the major boost for veterans living in Gower, Tonia Antoniazzi MP said: “Our Labour Government is determined to renew the nation's contract with those who serve and have served. “I’m proud that this Labour Government is stepping up support for our veterans with a new Veterans Strategy. As part of this, I will be backing local bids to bring a veterans’ support centre to south Wales. “This will transform government support for our heroes and recognise their invaluable contribution across the country.” John Healey MP, Labour’s Defence Secretary, said: “The first duty of government is to keep our country safe, and that is only possible through the extraordinary men and women in our Armed Forces. “Our nation owes a duty to those who have served, and this new Strategy recognises veterans as one of our greatest assets. "Today's announcements will boost local support for veterans across the UK, from better healthcare to housing to jobs. Labour’s message to veterans and the Armed Forces community is simple: we are on your side." VALOUR, which launched earlier this year - backed by £50m in total – will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is truly data driven. VALOUR-recognised support centres will open from spring 2026, offering veterans with a single contact point for support needs. Tonia Antoniazzi MP welcomes Labour’s historic plan to create 15 000 clean energy jobs in Wales24/10/2025
 Tonia Antoniazzi MP has welcomed plans for a clean energy jobs boom in Wales, which is set to create 15 000 jobs. Labour’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan shows how demand for clean energy workers is set to soar thanks to the government’s historic investment in clean energy. The first-of-a-kind plan shows how key trades such as plumbing, welding and electrification stand to benefit, with trade unions playing a major role. A generation of young people in Wales will benefit from new clean energy jobs under plans announced today by Labour. Following record investment by the Labour Government, the clean energy economy is booming. Labour’s plan will make sure that clean energy jobs are always good jobs, by ensuring companies receiving public grants and contracts must create jobs with decent pay, access to trade unions and strong rights at work. Commenting on the news, Tonia Antoniazzi MP said “For too long our communities have been calling for the next generation of good jobs for our children and grandchildren. “This plan answers that call - showing how Labour will rebuild our communities by creating well paid jobs in south Wales. “Labour is seizing this opportunity to create the next generation of jobs to power our country’s future.” Ed Miliband MP, Energy Secretary said “The clean energy economy is the route to delivering the good jobs at decent wages that our communities deserve. Our pro-worker, pro-jobs, pro-union agenda is delivering thousands of opportunities right across the country, so young people don’t have to leave their hometown just to find a decent job.” |
