The result is a deal which represents an obvious retreat from the Prime Minister's arrogant red lines and her pretence that we can have the same access to the single market without subscribing to its rule, but which fails in the cobbled-together political declaration to secure firm guarantees over this country's economic future. The deal does not remove the threat of a perilous cliff edge; it simply postpones it. The Prime Minister's deal creates ambiguity in trading relationships, and excludes services where the UK actually enjoys a trade surplus with Europe. It fails to guarantee alignment with future EU social workplace and environmental protections. It fosters uncertainty for citizens, both Europeans living here and UK citizens living in Europe. And when taken together with the wholly misconceived proposals in the White Paper on immigration, it positively inhibits the ability of employers to recruit workers in shortage areas in both the public and private sectors. As a result of this incoherence, the UK Government has been forced to accept the convoluted Northern Ireland backstop arrangement. The UK Government's own analysis, and those of independent institutions, including the National Institute for Economic and Social Research and the London School of Economics, shows the UK Government's approach will damage the economy. No-one voted in the referendum to be poorer.

Now, if we're criticising the UK Government position, it's entirely reasonable to ask what we propose instead. On that, we can be very clear. Almost exactly two years ago, we, jointly with Plaid Cymru, published our proposals in our White Paper 'Securing Wales' Future'. And I'll associate myself, if I may, with the comments the First Minister made in tributes earlier to Steffan Lewis, in particular his integral role in developing those proposals jointly. But if the Welsh Government was able to publish a comprehensive, strategic position for EU exit two years ago, why was the UK Government unable to do the same? We had to wait until the summer of 2018 before we had any serious inkling of where the UK really stood. 'Securing Wales' Future' represented as well an effort to reach out beyond the confines of one party to seek a broader consensus, an approach that the Prime Minister has rejected in formulating her own position.

We believe Wales's vital interests are best preserved through participation in the single market across the whole economy, including services. That's what business wants and that's what investors need. We should remain in a customs union, which is essential to avoid increased friction at the border and which delivers free trade with so many countries. We should preserve social protections and mutual rights for UK and EU citizens living in each other's countries, and continue to match environmental standards and social and labour rights as they develop across our continent. Fair movement should clearly link migration from the EU to work opportunities and should be accompanied by vigorous measures to prevent the exploitation of workers. If we follow these measures, as we outlined in our White Paper, the need for a Northern Ireland backstop simply melts away, and the integrity of the UK, which has been taken for granted in the UK Government's negotiating position, is protected.

Llywydd, I have no idea if the Prime Minister has a plan B. In the national interest, I hope she has—it is essential. We urge her now to commit to a new approach, based on working with the devolved administrations, and on a cross-party basis, and, at the same time, to ask the European Union for an extension to the article 50 deadline of 29 March. This country is in deep turmoil, and it cannot be right that fundamentally important decisions about our collective future be taken in these circumstances. The clock needs to be put on pause while Parliament regroups, while we all regroup, and think carefully about the best way forward for our country.

And I say this with great respect to all shades of opinion. Wherever people stand on Brexit, it cannot be right for the country if we simply fall out of the EU without any sort of deal, based on a random date at the end of March. That is the first choice of hardly anyone, and would be a travesty. But the stark reality is this: we face leaving without a deal on 29 March, and we must prepare for that. As the First Minister outlined last week, most of the key levers for 'no deal' Brexit preparation are in the hands of the UK Government. In spite of our policy disagreements, we are committed to working closely with them, and with the other devolved administrations, and other partners, to make preparations.

We have consistently said it would be extremely difficult to mitigate the effects of a 'no deal', but we have a responsibility to prepare for such a bleak situation. We are working with other organisations across Wales to do all in our power to prepare. To inform citizens and organisations, we have created a Preparing Wales website, bringing together the latest advice and information. We anticipate launching that in the coming days, taking into account developments in what is a very fluid situation.  

Members will know that we are working hard to make sure that our statute book is up to date. An enormous amount of work is being done, here and in collaboration with the UK Government, to ensure that legislation necessary to function outside the European Union is in place before 29 March. The work is being tackled in extraordinary and unique circumstances, and we look to colleagues here in the National Assembly to play a part alongside us as a Government. We have activated the well-established networks for civil contingencies management in Wales, and we are linked in to the wider UK contingencies network. We are also working with local resilience fora across Wales. NHS Wales is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to facilitate their necessary preparations. Information useful to business is posted to our Business Wales Brexit portal, and further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Llywydd, there is no avoiding the serious reality of the difficult position we now face. 'No deal' is a very possible outcome, and, as a responsible Government, we must do all we can to work with others to prepare and mitigate where possible. But this is not the outcome we want. Even now, we remain ready to work with the UK Government, and others, to secure a sensible deal with the EU. We will find out soon how the UK Government and Parliament intend to resolve the position. We have already called for the article 50 deadline to be extended.

The UK Government has perplexed its friends, undermined our country’s interests, caused anxiety to Europeans in our community, and exacerbated deep division amongst its own citizens. If the UK Government can't bring forward a deal that commands strong support, then it should stand aside. The current chaos cannot continue.