<p>Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:49 pm on 21 March 2017.

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Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 1:49, 21 March 2017

The case for independence by those who make it in Wales is built not on the economy, to my mind, but on emotion. What we must guard against, from my perspective, is that the emotional case doesn’t overwhelm the economic one, which is why it’s hugely important that, when the UK leaves the EU, we have in place a structure that reflects a proper partnership of the four nations within the UK, but it’s not a case of the UK Government imposing its will in devolved areas on the devolved Governments, and we also have an independent adjudication process for policing the rules of the internal single market of the UK. I believe that’s the way forward—respect for the four national identities within the UK, as well as other identities within the UK. That, for me, would represent, for Wales, a very good outcome. But my worry is the UK Government—I did say that there’s a tin ear, although the meeting yesterday was better, I have to say, than any we’ve had in the past. It is hugely important the UK Government itself doesn’t create the conditions where people feel annoyed enough to take the view that, actually, they don’t believe the UK is worth preserving. That is not something I’d want to see.