9. Plaid Cymru debate: Continued membership of the Customs Union

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 28 February 2018.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 5:41, 28 February 2018

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you for all the contributions to this afternoon's debate. You know, Cabinet Secretary, there's so much that we agree on on this matter, but I would really like to know, and would welcome an intervention or a lengthy letter, as you wish, whether there are other elements of the White Paper that you are now distancing yourselves from.

Let's remind ourselves of the title of that White Paper, 'Securing Wales' Future'. I think, above all, that should be the duty of us in this National Assembly for Wales, to secure Wales's future and to press for those actions that will stand Wales in good stead, post leaving the European Union. And, yes, as always happens, we're accused of wanting to frustrate the will of the people, that this is somehow a bid to stop Brexit. There are people across three parties in this Chamber who don't want to be leaving the European Union. I certainly don't. But this motion, as with so many of our actions in this party, and joined by other like-minded Assembly Members, is about trying to address the pragmatic and face the reality that, as it stands, we're on a trajectory to leave the European Union and we have to do everything within our powers to make sure that that departure is in Wales's interest. 

We believe, in this party, that post Brexit we should be a member of the single market. We believe in this party that post Brexit we should be a member of the customs union, the only customs union that can protect Welsh agriculture, that can save Welsh jobs, can stop the port of Holyhead in my constituency from being choked—it hasn't got the room for the checks on lorries. And I thank Dai Rees for so eloquently speaking in favour of our motion this afternoon, because that is, in effect, what you were doing. I understand that a line has now been laid out by the leader of the Labour Party on a customs union, and you are dutifully following that line, but let's focus on what we need to secure in order to make sure that Wales's interests are served as we move forward. 

There are people complaining about being bound by European rules. What on earth is wrong about being bound by rules that actually work in our favour—in favour of Welsh jobs, in favour of Welsh communities and the Welsh economy? Support the motion.