Today’s statement represents another important update on the EU withdrawal Bill and the Welsh response. We, in Plaid Cymru, have had a consistent position since the EU referendum was announced that the Welsh national interest must be defended. That means an ‘all hands on deck’ approach from those committed to protecting the powers of this Assembly and this country, and I say that regardless of disagreements between our parties on what specific action must be taken.

In January this year, I urged the Welsh Government to work with the Scottish Government on a joint approach, in line with our common interests, and I’m glad to see that the development of joint amendments has taken place, fulfilling what Plaid Cymru has called for. We, of course, intend to support those amendments at the appropriate stage. Plaid Cymru will also be tabling our own amendments throughout the passage of the EU withdrawal Bill at Westminster, and I can assure this Chamber that our MPs, and Dafydd Wigley in the second Chamber, will use every opportunity that they have to push amendments that prevent a future Westminster power grab. We’re also tabling amendments that aim to protect our membership of the single market and customs union, and which aim to prevent deregulation and a race to the bottom when the UK leaves the various EU regulatory agencies.

I’ll repeat something that I’ve said in this Chamber in the past. The EU withdrawal Bill and the attempts to improve it will be highly technical, and we wouldn’t expect it to be the talk of the pub or the workplace, but, 20 years since the first ‘yes’ vote, there is one thing that people do understand and that they are talking about. They know that there have been two votes to confirm the powers of this Assembly, and citizens of Wales don’t support those powers being constrained or reduced. So, I’d like to ask the First Minister if he’s given any thought to that LCM process in the Assembly and exactly how it’ll work. Would he agree that the UK Government should make a commitment to accept the outcome of an LCM in this place, as well as in any other parliament? There is, of course, a precedent from the LCM on the Wales Bill, which the UK Government committed to recognising. I wonder if he will outline what steps can be taken if a vote to deny consent is ignored by the UK Government.