8. 6. ‘Securing Wales' Future’: Transition from the European Union to a New Relationship with Europe

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:12 pm on 7 February 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Reckless Mark Reckless UKIP 6:12, 7 February 2017

I thank the Member very much for bringing me on to what was going to be my next point. I have a particular concern about what David Davis said, that, in the context of devolution, there’ll be powers coming from the EU, and we will have to decide where they most properly land—whether that is Westminster, Holyrood, or whatever. That is not the case. There will be a restriction on our right to legislate in a devolved context lifted when we leave the EU, as the First Minister very clearly and properly said.

And we would have liked to examine that UK Minister about what that meant, particularly in the area of the committee I chair, where many of those areas are extraordinarily important to Wales. That opportunity has now been denied us. I have copied you, Llywydd, into that note. And I think it does betoken at least the appearance of a lack of respect for the Assembly and for our devolved powers. I hope that will not continue to be the position; I hope the leader of the opposition will use his good offices to help ensure that. But, certainly, when the First Minister speaks clearly on that, he will have the support of our party in doing that.

Now, if I may conclude, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has, I think, set out a pretty clear approach. She has said, if it is necessary, she will prioritise restricting freedom of movement above the single market. We believe she is right in that approach, we believe she speaks for the people of Wales as well as for the people of the UK as a whole, and I believe she has earned the right to be given freedom and flexibility to negotiate that once article 50 is triggered, which we support.