Much has been made, particularly in this Chamber, of the benefits to Wales of so-called European money. We’ve heard a Member say today that the £10 billion we give to Europe is absolutely inconsequential. But, when a part of that comes back to Wales, they represent it as absolutely crucial to the economy of Wales. So, one thing doesn’t tie up with the other. So, can I seek to enlighten those who appear to be devoid of the ability to comprehend the very simple fact that there is no such thing as European money? The money Wales receives from Brussels, as with the rest of the UK, is British money coming back to us after Brussels has taken more than 50 per cent to subsidise projects across the whole of the European mainland. It therefore follows, to even the most fiscally inept, that if we retained the whole of this money within the UK, we would all benefit from the retention of that 50 per cent currently spent by Brussels Eurocrats. The lording of this European money is often followed by the spurious argument that, if we were to leave the UK, the British Parliament would not give Wales its fair share of the £50 bonus. [Interruption.] I call this a spurious argument because those who promulgate it must be suggesting that the 40 MPs who represent Wales in Westminster—most of whom are, of course, Labour MPs—are impotent in ensuring that Wales does not indeed get a fair share of this money. Further, are they suggesting that the four MEPs that we have in the European Parliament are a far more effective force than the 40 we send to Westminster?

Last, but by no means least—[Interruption.] I’m sorry, no. Last, but by no means least, let’s put this European money into its true perspective. Westminster’s willingness to invest in Wales is evidenced by the fact that Wales receives around £14.7 billion more from the UK Government than it pays in taxes. That’s every single year. This, of course, dwarfs the total amount of money Wales has received from Europe over the whole of the last 16 years. It follows that in any unbiased accurate analysis of facts, devoid of party politics, Wales would be better off out of this European superstate.

Can I finish by saying that in this matter of the European superstate, I find it incomprehensible that the two so-called socialist parties in this Chamber find themselves supporting big banks, big business, and a political elite against the interests of the working classes of Wales?