Although many supported a ‘remain’ vote, Wales has voted to leave the EU and all views must be respected and heard. As negotiations in relation to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU progress, Wales will need strong leadership that reflects the wishes of its people and ensures the best deal for our nation in this new era. The Welsh Conservative group places a high value on access to the single market, recognising that access to markets is also a two-way process, and many EU nations depend heavily on both the Welsh and UK marketplace. The Welsh Conservative group will be resolute in ensuring the best deal for Wales in a post-Brexit UK, including in relation to funding streams. We do believe that Wales must benefit from at least as much funding as we move forward, and we will also be supporting the Welsh Government amendment.

Ultimately, however, a primary aim must be to close the prosperity gap between Wales and other European nations, which has enabled Wales’s access to many EU funding streams over many years. We are committed to ensuring Welsh farming flourishes. The farming community in Wales and Welsh decision makers must now be at the centre of the development of a new support system that recognises the distinct challenges faced by farmers in Wales and provides the financial support necessary to support the industry’s long-term sustainable future.

Welsh representation must have a central input as part of the negotiation process for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, where all UK nations face unique, separate challenges. The rights of all EU citizens already living legally in the UK must be protected and incidences of racist or xenophobic attacks following the referendum result deserve the strongest condemnation.

Britain is one of the world’s largest economies, a global country—or state, depending on your interpretation—that already conducts more trade outside the EU than any other member state. Outside the EU, we do regain the freedom to forge trade deals while continuing to trade with European partners. Green shoots are beginning to emerge, as other countries and states start to realise the possibility of free-trade deals with the UK and its constituent nations. President Obama stated that the special relationship between the US and UK will endure, and members of the US Congress are already openly and seriously discussing the possibilities of a US-UK trade deal.

India is looking forward to striking a deal. The EU’s last attempt to deal with India began nine years ago and has stalled, with no obvious prospect of resumption. But, as India’s Deputy Minister of Finance has said, the UK is going to look to build its relationships with the rest of the world. The German Federal Ministry of Finance advised the EU to enter into negotiations aimed at making the UK an associated partner country of the trade bloc, coming after German industry giants pressed their Government to strike a free-trade deal in the event of the UK leaving the EU. New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters said that a trade deal with the UK is an absolute priority. Labour Party leader Andrew Little suggested that New Zealand should draw on its long and historic relationships with the UK to ensure future trade, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggested that New Zealand and Australia could team up to negotiate a single deal with the UK.

Ghana was quick out of the traps to propose a trade deal. Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hanna Tetteh said she was working up a delegation already. In Canada, the Justin Trudeau administration said:

‘The UK and the EU are important strategic partners for Canada with whom we enjoy deep historical ties and common values. We will continue to build relations with both parties as they forge a new relationship.’

While Iceland was the first country to offer a trade deal to Britain, Mexico has beaten it by already drafting a trade pact between the countries. The President of Switzerland has reached out to the UK and said, ‘We are interested and open.’ Business Secretary Sajid Javid revealed that South Korea contacted the UK Government to begin bilateral trade talks as soon as possible.

As Henry Ford said:

‘Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.’

If we believe, opportunity beckons. If we don’t, failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. As the company I visited in Flintshire on Monday told me: you don’t need to be in the EU to have a future. They are switching their French production to north Wales. Speaking today, Prime Minister Theresa May referred to the need to negotiate the best deal for Britain in leaving the EU, and to forge a new role for ourselves in the world, adding:

‘Brexit means Brexit, and we are going to make a success of it.’

Let’s do that.