2. 2. Debate: The Outcome of the EU Referendum

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:00 pm on 28 June 2016.

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Photo of Caroline Jones Caroline Jones UKIP 3:00, 28 June 2016

I would also like thank the First Minister for his statement on Friday and for bringing forward this important debate today. On Thursday, the people of the United Kingdom spoke and spoke loudly. They said: ‘Britain is better off outside the European Union’. It’s highly regrettable that the Prime Minister who gave us this referendum did not have the courage to see it through to its conclusion. However, it’s important that we all now work together to deliver the best deal for Wales and the UK. Our exit negotiations should not be overshadowed by internal strife and leadership campaigns in both the Conservative and Labour parties. There are those who seek to dismiss the views of the nearly 17.5 million British voters who voted to leave the EU. They may not like the results, but we live in a democracy, and that’s how democracy works: the majority rule. If we look at the referendum that led to the creation of our Assembly, that result was much, much closer, yet there wasn’t a clamour from the ‘no’ camp, seeking to circumvent the wishes of the electorate or looking to creatively negate the result. The people of the UK have made it clear: they are fed up with unelected bureaucrats telling them what to do. They want out of the EU, and it’s up to us, their elected representatives, to see that their wishes are fulfilled—[Interruption.] Sorry, is it an intervention you want? [Interruption.] Stand for election? Yes, I did.