Leanne Wood: Thank you, First Minister, for today’s statement, and for unveiling your much-anticipated programme for government. You’ve stated that the Government’s relentless focus for the next Assembly will be on improving Wales’s economy and public services. Is it not true that that’s been the Government’s focus for the past 17 years? Of course, I don’t think any party in this Chamber...
Leanne Wood: So the Assembly should have a veto.
Leanne Wood: First Minister, you say, ‘For Wales, see Scotland’, but it looks more like you saying, ‘For Wales, see England’. Everything that they do, you are happy to go along with, and your position on Brexit is full of contradictions. Let’s have a look at what you’ve said, for example, about a Welsh veto. During your recent visit to the United States, you stated, ‘Whatever deal is finally...
Leanne Wood: Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, last week the Scottish Government’s Brexit Minister met with the UK Cabinet Secretary for leaving the EU in order to discuss what role the Edinburgh administration could play in the UK’s negotiating stance. Two weeks ago in Chicago you said that Wales cannot afford to be—and these are your words— ‘passive observers in this most momentous of...
Leanne Wood: Well, I think it’s a shame, First Minister, that, unlike Scotland, Wales will not have a Minister dedicated solely to looking at Brexit and nothing else. First Minister, I understand that you established an expert advisory group on Brexit back in August in order to secure the best possible outcome for Wales from the Brexit negotiations. Can you tell us: has that group met yet? My...
Leanne Wood: Look at the evidence—[Inaudible.]
Leanne Wood: Will you take a further intervention? Minister, will you accept that the question of freedom of movement of people wasn’t on the ballot paper? I’d just ask, are you aware of the research carried out by the Wales TUC, which asked people, in the Valleys particularly, why they voted to leave the European Union, and that this question of the free movement of people or immigration was put at...
Leanne Wood: Minister, the result on 23 June has caused great anxiety amongst many people, and young people are not immune to this. You will be aware, I’m sure, of the large demonstration that took place outside this building in the aftermath of Brexit, which was organised by students. Have you yet considered what impact the potential reduction of research funding for universities will have on the...
Leanne Wood: 6. What considerations has the Minister given to how exiting the EU will impact upon young people’s entitlements in Wales? OAQ(5)0033(CC)
Leanne Wood: No, we want a Welsh one.
Leanne Wood: From today’s statement, your keynote speech in Chicago, and the previous written statement issued during August, it seems that the machinery of Government has slowly moved into action over the summer. From the outset, in the eyes of many organisations, businesses and other stakeholders, the Welsh Government response to Brexit has been slow. My first question is: is it true that you called...
Leanne Wood: Thank you for the clarity on that point, First Minister. [Interruption.] You contradicted that position last week. So, finally, we have clarity and I’m grateful to you for that. Last night, your Labour MPs—Welsh Labour MPs—voted against a Welsh legal jurisdiction. The amendments that Labour voted against were from your very own government and laws in Wales draft Bill. And that’s not...
Leanne Wood: Access not membership. I asked you about membership.
Leanne Wood: First Minister, that isn’t a vision. You’ve outlined the next steps, you’ve outlined what you’d like to see the Prime Minister do, but you haven’t told us what you want to see for Wales. Now, there have been mixed messages coming from your UK leader on this question of single market membership, and your own statements have not been much clearer either. You’ve called for free...
Leanne Wood: Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, the terms upon which we leave the European Union will define the future of the Welsh economy and indeed all of Welsh politics. You’ve said that Wales should have a veto if the Brexit deal isn’t a good one for Wales. Now, it’s one thing to call for a veto, but what we need to see now is vision, and people are looking to you for that comprehensive,...
Leanne Wood: Will the First Minister make a statement on increasing the use of the Welsh language?
Leanne Wood: Diolch. I thank all Members for their contributions but, in particular, I want to thank the Members of the Plaid Cymru team: Simon Thomas, who focused on the effect of Brexit on the environment and the agricultural sector; Bethan Jenkins, who focused on our steel industry; and Adam Price, who addressed the wider economic questions arising from Brexit. And, yes, it is time for a paradigm shift...
Leanne Wood: Sure.
Leanne Wood: I would agree with that 100 per cent. Of course, our farming industry is in jeopardy as things stand, and those guarantees need to be there in order to provide guarantees for that industry in the long term. EU nationals are a net financial, cultural and social benefit to our country and none of us should tire from making that point, and you will hear us make that point time and time again....
Leanne Wood: Let me finish by saying that 23 June changed everything. Wales now needs strong leadership and vision to deal with the hand that we’ve been dealt, and Plaid Cymru is ready to do whatever we can to make sure that that is provided.
