When Catherine Fookes was elected as the Labour MP for Monmouthshire on 4 July 2024, she made local history as the constituency’s first woman MP. She won 21,010 votes and overturned the Conservative hold on the area with a majority of 3,338.
As a Labour Party campaigner I made myself quite visible during the election campaign, supporting Catherine Fookes on #labourdoorstep campaigns. I believe she is a wonderful woman and I thought I’d do a quick blog post to monitor her activities as an MP.
Just over two years later, it is worth taking stock of what she has done for the constituency—from Caldicot and Chepstow to Monmouth, Usk, Abergavenny and our rural communities.
Representing residents
An MP’s most important work is often the least visible. Behind every parliamentary speech are residents needing help with housing, benefits, immigration, public services or another difficult problem.
According to figures released by Catherine’s office, her team responded to more than 22,000 emails and helped resolve over 2,000 individual cases during her first two years. That represents a substantial constituency workload and supports her promise to remain accessible and active throughout Monmouthshire.
She has also regularly visited local organisations, businesses, community events and residents across the constituency. As someone based in Caldicot, I have seen her continue to maintain a presence in the south of the county rather than allowing Westminster to become the whole job.
Progress on Magor and Undy station
The long-running campaign for a walkway railway station at Magor and Undy has been one of the most important transport issues in this part of Monmouthshire.
Catherine repeatedly raised the project in Parliament, arguing that a station could take cars off the M4 and connect residents without access to a car to employment opportunities. In July 2025, the Transport Secretary described her as a “fearsome advocate” for the proposal.
The UK Government subsequently confirmed Magor and Undy as one of seven planned new stations in Wales. The programme forms part of a wider rail investment worth almost £500 million and is expected to help unlock thousands of jobs in the nearby industrial area.
This was the product of a determined community campaign involving local residents and organisations over many years. Catherine’s contribution has been to give that campaign a strong voice at Westminster and press ministers to turn a longstanding proposal into a funded government commitment.
Fighting for cleaner rivers
The condition of the Wye, Usk and Monnow has been central to Catherine’s parliamentary work.
She has spoken repeatedly about sewage, agricultural pollution and the need for cooperation across the English–Welsh border. In January 2025, she led a Westminster Hall debate on water quality in Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas, highlighting the work of local campaigners and environmental organisations.
The UK and Welsh governments later announced a joint £1 million research programme for the River Wye. The programme is examining sources of pollution, changes in farming and land management, declining wildlife and possible practical improvements to water quality.
Catherine also served on the committee scrutinising the Water (Special Measures) Bill. The resulting legislation strengthened the regulator’s powers and introduced tougher measures intended to hold water-company executives accountable.
A research programme and new legislation will not repair our rivers overnight. The real test will be whether water quality improves. Nevertheless, keeping the Wye and Usk prominent in Parliament—and securing cross-border attention—is meaningful progress.
Inglis Bridge
The closure of Monmouth’s historic Inglis Bridge in September 2024 removed an important pedestrian connection between Rockfield, Osbaston and Vauxhall Fields.
Catherine worked alongside councillors, residents, the Ministry of Defence and other local partners campaigning for the bridge to be repaired. Approximately £1 million was made available through the Ministry of Defence and associated bodies for its refurbishment.
The bridge reopened following major repair work in summer 2026, restoring a valued route used by residents, walkers and children travelling to Osbaston Primary School.
As with the station campaign, this was a collective local achievement. An effective MP’s role is often to bring the right people together, maintain pressure and make sure a community’s case reaches those controlling the funding.
High streets and local services
Catherine has campaigned over empty shops and the decline of banking services in Monmouthshire. In one of her early parliamentary contributions, she highlighted the closure of eight local bank branches over two years and called for banking hubs to protect access to face-to-face services.
She has also supported efforts to revive the county’s town centres. Monmouthshire was awarded £1.5 million through the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme, intended to support local high streets and community spaces.
Other constituency matters she has raised include driving-test delays, medical driving licences, rail accessibility at Chepstow station, Welsh farming and the economic effect of weak transport links.
Her campaign for step-free access at Chepstow railway station has attracted more than 1,500 signatures. It remains unfinished business, but it has given greater visibility to a problem that prevents wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs and people with limited mobility from using the station independently.
Women’s equality and public life
Before entering Parliament, Catherine had a long record of campaigning for women’s equality. That work continued after her election through her membership of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee from October 2024 until October 2025.
The committee examines equality policy and holds the Government to account on subjects including discrimination, women’s safety and violence against women and girls.
Catherine has also used parliamentary questions and committee work to raise concerns reported by local women and minority groups. This has given Monmouthshire a voice in national discussions extending beyond the constituency’s geographical boundaries.
A growing role in Westminster
During her first parliamentary year, Catherine spoke more than 100 times in Parliament, according to figures published by her office. Her contributions have covered transport, rivers, farming, local banking, economic growth, equality and other constituency concerns.
In September 2025, she was appointed as one of the Parliamentary Private Secretaries to the Prime Minister. A PPS is an unpaid assistant who acts as a link between ministers and backbench MPs. The position brings Catherine closer to the centre of government, although it also means she is expected to support the Government in parliamentary votes.
That creates both an opportunity and a test: whether greater access within government can be used to secure further attention and investment for Monmouthshire while still representing local concerns candidly.
The work ahead
There is still plenty to do. Residents want to see cleaner rivers rather than promises, a functioning Magor and Undy station rather than another plan, proper accessibility at Chepstow station, stronger high streets and better public services.
After two years, however, Catherine Fookes has established herself as an active constituency MP. Her record includes substantial casework, regular parliamentary interventions and involvement in several tangible local developments.
Politics should ultimately be judged by what changes in people’s lives. The next stage will be turning secured funding, government commitments and parliamentary pressure into lasting results on the ground.
For Monmouthshire, the encouraging sign is that our MP is visible, engaged and making sure the constituency is heard.
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