Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:45 pm on 3 October 2018.
Well, look, it's not us on this side who have undermined the Prime Minister's negotiations. I mean, look at what even her former Foreign Secretary is saying about the way that she's handled the negotiations. That's one bit where it seems there's wide agreement. It's been shambolic; it's been absolutely pathetic. The problem is, of course, that it's the people who will pay the price for the lack of political leadership there. We are in a position of gridlock, a political gridlock, and we have to find a way forward. There is no easy path forward, and it's under these circumstances that it's right and proper in a democracy that we give the people their choice to revisit this question, because they were lied to; they were never furnished with the full facts upon which they could make a decision.
I would say to Members in the Labour Party that this is an opportunity, yes, I think—this is bigger than party. This is actually about the future of our nation. It will affect us—as Helen Mary has said, particularly the young people, who are demanding a people's vote in greater and ever greater numbers. They will have to live with the consequences of this. The tragedy, of course, is that this collapse of political leadership at the centre of the British state doesn't just affect the Conservative Party; I have to say that it affects the Labour Party as well. We in this Parliament have been able to form agreement in terms of the White Paper, but I'm confused as to what the position is of the Labour Party at the British level. In terms of the six tests that were referred to, well, the policy is to be outside the single market, so how can you meet the test of delivering the exact same benefits? That's kind of Theresa-May-parallel-reality world. We, I think, deserve better than that. I think, actually, Labour Party members and supporters deserve better than that. And I would just appeal to you, even at this late stage—and I'm looking at the business manager: don't join UKIP and the Tories tonight. Vote with us for a people's vote.