Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today (5th May) voiced concerns at figures released by plastic surgery provider, The Harley Medical Group, which reveal an increase of more than a quarter of the number of men having cosmetic surgery.

The private cosmetic surgery group operates 26 clinics and has revealed that one fifth of its Botox patients are now men, many of whom are aged between 25 and 30 years. The group also revealed that breast reduction surgery for men was among the most popular procedures.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins, said:

“I’m concerned by the increase in the numbers and believe we need to find out the reasons for the significant increase in the number of men seeking cosmetic surgery. Undergoing surgical procedures is not straight-forward and completely risk free and I think questions need to be asked about why in the last 12 months more men have taken this option.”

Ms Jenkins, who founded and is chair of the Assembly’s Cross-party Group on Eating Disorders said the growing pressures on young people to look ‘magazine-perfect’ could be a factor.

Ms Jenkins added:

“Traditionally, the pressures on young women to live up to certain celebrity-standards of vanity have meant that women have become susceptible to eating disorders or have felt pressured into cosmetic surgery. The rise in the numbers of men undergoing surgery would suggest that the social pressures are now beginning to bear on young mane too.

“I’m concerned that all the options to specific issues of appearance are not being made as available as possible to people. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating and regular exercise need to be made to people who are considering procedures such as lypo-suction. I have written to the Minister for Health asking her for clarity on the number of people in Wales who have received cosmetic surgery and have implored upon her the importance of providing adequate information on all the options available to people.”

ENDS

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today joined protesters from Bridgend on the steps of the Senedd who are protesting against cuts A level courses at Bridgend College.

Speaking outside the Senedd, Ms Jenkins told protesters that she has urged the Education Minister to take “urgent action” to support the college and guarantee the future of A level courses at Bridgend College.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins, said:

“This situation is unacceptable and I have every sympathy with students and staff who have been placed in such uncertainty. I have written to the Education Minister urging swift action to secure a future for courses at Bridgend College. The timing of this uncertainty couldn’t be worse; this is the time of year where students are preparing for their examinations and the last thing they will want will be this turmoil.”

At 11am this morning (17th May), Swansea played its part in both remembering those who gave their lives fighting fascism 70 years ago, and reminding us that in terms of the challenge of the BNP , the fight goes on.Representatives all all four main political parties took a break from campaigning for the European elections and joined together, in a united front against the threat of fascist politics in Wales. In doing so, they also remembered those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in defeating fascism 70 years ago, both in Spain and the 2nd World War.

Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black, Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins, Labour European Candidate Derek Vaughan and Conservative European candidate David Chipp placed a wreath at the city’s war memorial on the sea front, read out 100 names of local fallen from the two conflicts and all spoke passionately about the importance of staying united, against the threat of fascist politics to the communities of Wales.

The Searchlight Representative at the event was Ian Titherington. He stated, “Searchlight are delighted at the united stance our main political parties have taken against fascism. The BNP have no hope of winning a seat in Wales next month, but they will no doubt attempt to build foundations for future elections. Evey step of the way, they will be challenged, until their message of fascist extremism is truly exposed.”

The event coincided with other identical commemorations across Wales in Cardiff and Flint, where the main political parties again united in the anti-fascist cause.

Ian Titherington concluded, “The BNP are now very skilled at hiding their true identity and no doubt, many voters will fall for their con trick next month. However, the political challenges in 21st Century Wales can never be solved by race hate and prejudice-the lessons of 70 years ago are proof enough of that.”

Plaid Cymru backbench culture and language spokesperson Bethan Jenkins AM has today (15.05.09) welcomed the launch of the new Welsh language daily news service – Golwg 360.Golwg 360, which is being officially launched in Llandudno today, follows a commitment by Plaid in government to invest in a daily news service in the medium of Welsh.

Plaid AM Bethan Jenkins said:

“Golwg 360 is a fantastic development in the media in Wales. When Plaid went into government we committed to supporting a Welsh medium daily news service and it is fantastic to see this pledge becoming a reality.

“This is a very important step forward for the Welsh media and Welsh language journalism. This news service is one of the ways that Plaid in government is ensuring that the Welsh language is encouraged to thrive.”

A more active lifestyle should be the focus for improving health and wellbeing. That was the message from Plaid Am and eating disorders campaigner, Bethan Jenkins, today during a debate on the government’s action plan: ‘Creating an active Wales’.The action plan, ‘Creating an Active Wales’, launched by Plaid Minister Alun Ffred Jones, focuses on four strategic aims; to develop a physical environment that makes it easier for people to choose to be more physically active; to support children and young people to live active lives, and become active adults; to encourage more adults to be more active, more often throughout life and to increase participation in sport, by all sectors of the population.

Bethan Jenkins AM said that all too often the debate surrounding healthy lifestyles becomes over focussed on food and eating habits which can fuel obsessions with food and lead to eating disorders.

Plaid’s AM Bethan Jenkins said:

“It’s important that government sends out the right messages about leading a healthy lifestyle. This action plan from Plaid’s Alun Ffred Jones does just that. Rather than focussing on food and dieting, it is setting a challenge to everyone to lead more active lives. This is proven to improve overall health and wellbeing. Past governments have paid lip service to this concept; I am proud that it is a Plaid Minister who is taking the first concrete steps to making a positive difference to the health of the nation through physical activity.

“As the Chief Medical Officer has stated, more than half of Welsh men and women are classified as overweight or obese. Urgent measures are necessary to tackle these problems, but it is important that these measures are not focussed solely on diet and food.

“Plaid is committed to enabling people to improve their health through increased physical activity. In the 2008 local elections we pledged to create healthier and more active workplaces in local authorities, something we have delivered for example since we went into government in Cardiff council.

“The important role that increased activity plays in improving health cannot be underestimated. I am confident that this action plan will have a very positive impact on the health and well being of the people of Wales.”

Plaid Cymru Child Poverty spokesperson, Bethan Jenkins AM has today accused the Westminster Government of failing Welsh children as figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show that the number of children living in poverty in Wales is the highest of any UK nation – and is rising.The statistics show 32% of children in Wales were in poverty in 2008, defined as living in households with less than 60% of the UK median income.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins, said:

“These figures are a consequence of an intentional policy of the UK Government not to invest the necessary resources to rid our communities of the scar of poverty. The One Wales Government has been working hard to implement strategies to keep us on course to reach our targets of abolishing child poverty by 2020, but Westminster is determined to force through devastating cuts to the Welsh budget.”

The figures for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were 31%, 24% and 26% respectively. Last year, the figure for Wales was 29%.

Ms Jenkins said the Government should yield to the demands of child poverty campaigners and invest the estimated £3 billion in tax credits that could lead to a halving of child poverty by next year.

Ms Jenkins added:

“The last Budget was a scandal for those of us who’ve been campaigning to eradicate child poverty. The Government’s increase amounts to a meagre 38p a week for families in poverty. Gordon Brown must invest the estimated £3 billion needed if we have any hope of reaching our child poverty targets.”

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today attacked Labour for wasting money on ID cards whilst forcing a £416 million budget cut on Wales. Ms Jenkins comments come on the day that the Government’s ID card pilot is launched in Manchester.Ms Jenkins said it was disgraceful that Labour were pressing ahead with spending £5.324bn on its ID card scheme whilst threatening Welsh public services with a cut that will reach £1bn by 2014.

Ms Jenkins said the Secretary of State

Speaking from the Senedd today, Ms Jenkins, said:

“Labour’s determination to press ahead with this costly, unnecessary and unethical scheme whilst slashing frontline investment tells us all we need to know about Labour’s priorities. Plaid Cymru in government is fighting to help people through the current economic crisis whilst London Labour demonstrate how out of touch they are with the priorities of the people.”

Ms Jenkins also highlighted the number of key Labour figures who have since come out in opposition to the ID card scheme.

Ms Jenkins added:

“David Blunkett, who introduced these plans eight years ago has joined calls to scrap the idea, as have Stephen Byers and Ken Livingstone. Clearly there is a line of Labourites who are now jumping off Gordon Brown’s sinking ship.”