We did it!
Anglesey is now a Freeport
Today is a brilliant day for Ynys Môn and the start of its renaissance.
The investment and jobs that await freeport status will transform lives and lead to thousands of high-quality jobs so our young do not have to leave.
From the moment the freeport concept was announced by this Conservative government I knew it was the key to reversing decades of underinvestment and decline here on Ynys Môn.
The campaign has been long and sometimes I have sounded like a broken record in parliament going on about how a freeport should be on Anglesey. I fought a sceptical Labour Government in Cardiff for too many months but I thank it for finally getting behind the idea.
All this was done because I know how important it is to deliver for this island and its wonderful people who have been so ill served for so long.
I thank everyone who has worked hard on this bid in such a positive way. Stena Line has been magnificent and I thank the council too for its support. If we work together, we can achieve a great deal.
Many companies have come to meet me and I have shown them around the island to see the huge potential we have. Freeport status means they will now come. They want to invest and bring skills and prosperity.
We are a brilliant place to do business!
I was elected to represent this island with a mission to bring jobs and investment to it. Today marks a major moment in that mission.
I will take a moment to savour this success for our island and for the whole of north Wales, but then I will be back to work making sure the freeport lives up to its billing, ensuring the companies get here as fast as possible and, of course, I will continue to fight for new nuclear at Wylfa.
There is much still to do.
