𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 & 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗹 - 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

In this column I usually focus on the ‘bigger picture’ part of my role:  

• fighting to secure Anglesey Freeport in Westminster because I know how much our young people need the good quality, well paid jobs this will bring, 

• badgering Ministers, raising the profile of new nuclear in Westminster and speaking out at every opportunity to make sure that Wylfa is the UK Government’s priority nuclear energy site, 

• bringing Ministers to visit Ynys Môn – 33 visits in the past four years – so that they can see for themselves the difference the UK Government’s Levelling Up funds will make to our communities. 

In the four years since I became your MP the UK Government has invested £249m on Ynys Môn.  That is the equivalent of £62m per year. Conversely according to Welsh Government statistics, in the six years before Brexit our island received an average of just £16m per year in EU funding.  

This funding does not come directly to me; much of it goes directly to Anglesey County Council so that our locally elected Councillors can invest it in projects that are important to the communities they represent.   

But today I want to focus on the ‘smaller picture’. 

One of the best things about being your Member of Parliament is that I can respond to constituent requests and truly make a difference at all levels on Ynys Môn. 

Since the island elected me to be its MP, along with my brilliant team I have dealt with more than 24,000 pieces of casework.  These range from people asking questions about UK Government policy through to urgent personal and family matters.  I have helped people to get visas, access hospital appointments, obtain driving licences, improve their housing, get their children into education and so much more. 

People say that I have a reputation for working hard, being approachable and championing our island at every opportunity. I aim to make tomorrow a better day for as many as possible – however they voted. I am proud that I can play a part in improving people’s lives across our island. Some cases can take just one email to make a difference.  Others can take years.  When we have successes me and my team are delighted to know that we have helped. 

It is my casework, along with the charity fundraising I have done for Ynys Môn – raising more than £45,000 for local charities and good causes – that is the grassroots part of my job.  I am here to represent and support the people and communities of Ynys Môn. 

That is why, when I was approached by Amlwch resident, Mandy Jones, and Twrcelyn Councillor, Aled Morris Jones, I was keen to help.   

They told me that a discount supermarket was desperately needed for residents to serve Amlwch and the surrounding areas. From this discussion I launched my Aldi to Amlwch campaign. At my first meeting in Blueberries Cafe, more than 60 Amlwch residents turned up to show their support. 

With Mandy and teams of volunteers delivering leaflets to 3,000 homes in and around Amlwch and my office gathering signatures we very quickly had the support of nearly 1,000 local people. I highlighted the campaign in business questions in the House of Commons where I thanked Mandy and was delighted when the Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt offered to cut the ribbon with a sword if a new Aldi opens in the North of the Island! 

I met with Aldi to share the feedback from local residents and to highlight the strength of support and interest there is in Amlwch for a discount supermarket. It was also an opportunity to update the Aldi team on my campaigns for new nuclear at Wylfa and the Freeport – both huge factors in their decision making. Aldi was particularly impressed that the campaign had the support of almost 1,000 local people. Following this meeting Aldi updated their website and Amlwch is now included one of their priority sites. This means that they are now actively looking for a potential location for an Aldi in Amlwch. 

We did it! 

This goes to show how effective a local campaign can be with backing and support from your MP. My thanks go to Mandy Jones, Cllr Aled Morris Jones and all those who worked so hard on the campaign. 

‘Within days of me contacting her, Virginia contacted Aldi, met with the local community in Amlwch and has now launched a campaign. I have been impressed with Virginia’s commitment to making a difference to people’s lives in the North of the island’ Mandy Jones, local resident 

Of course, not all campaigns achieve things so quickly.  My campaign to get a new Medical Centre for Holyhead is progressing at a very different pace but we have a significant number of people who have signed up to support it.  The more voices we have the louder we can shout and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board (BCUHB) needs to know how very important it is for Holyhead to have a fit-for-purpose medical centre to support the population of the west of Ynys Môn.  

If you have found it difficult to get a GP appointment or have been affected by the lack of health services within easy reach of Holyhead please do sign up to my Medical Centre campaign. Your view will make a difference. https://www.virginiacrosbie.co.uk/holyhead_health. 

If you have a local, personal or community issue you would like my help with please do get in touch. Let’s work together to make Ynys Môn an even better place to live and work. We are stronger together and the more voices we can raise the better chance we have of making real grassroots differences to our communities.