8. Plaid Cymru Debate: People's Vote

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:56 pm on 3 October 2018.

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Photo of Paul Davies Paul Davies Conservative 4:56, 3 October 2018

Clearly, I accept there are still a number of outstanding issues between the UK and the EU in its current negotiations—not least of all around the nature of the border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. However, I'm confident that those matters will be resolved during the course of the negotiations, particularly as both the UK Government and the EU have made it absolutely clear that they wish to avoid a hard border between Ireland and north Ireland.

Naturally, as the UK leaves the European Union, there are several constitutional questions that will arise for each of the devolved administrations. Indeed, the First Minister was quite right when he said, last year, that Brexit provides an opportunity to reinvent and strengthen the United Kingdom, and I agree with him that there are significant opportunities to readdress the relationships between the devolved administrations, and I look forward to addressing those constitutional questions as we move forward.

Llywydd, we on this side of the Chamber have been very clear: we will work with colleagues across this Chamber and beyond to see Wales prosper once we leave the European Union. Welsh communities, Welsh industries and the Welsh people all rely on its Governments at all levels to do everything possible to make this happen. Anything else, including implementing a second vote, will only serve as a distraction at a time when we need to focus all our efforts into seeing Wales flourish for the future. We will not support calls to frustrate the will of the people by supporting a second vote on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. We have a finite amount of time before we leave the EU; let's make the most of it by working together in the interests of our constituents, and I therefore urge Members to support our amendment.