Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:08 pm on 30 January 2019.
The Member didn't accept the result from the word 'go'. He's managed to inveigle the Labour Party gradually into agreeing with Plaid Cymru on a Brexit in name only and pushing that, and, as we get closer and closer to the deadline, being more and more clear in their belief that their voters were wrong and they should be made to vote again. But when they say, in part 2 of this motion, that it,
'Reiterates its view that a no deal outcome would be catastrophic', but then go on to request an extension of article 50, they take the pressure off the European Union to agree a deal. Now, maybe they want to extend it because they want to extend and extend and extend so we stay in the European Union forever. If so, why don't they come out and honestly state that as their position?
If not, we have a backstop with Ireland that basically will mean that the United Kingdom is not allowed to leave the customs union unless the EU gives us permission. It will mean that Northern Ireland is subject to regulatory annexation by the European Union outside the UK regime. Those positions are unacceptable. The border should be dealt with through the trade discussions, and, with goodwill on both sides, we can avoid having a hard border, we can continue free trade, and we can have a prosperous United Kingdom and a prosperous Ireland. But what that requires is for the European Union to change its position, come to alternative arrangements instead of that Brexit, instead of that backstop, and then we will have a deal that takes us out of the European Union and makes a success for Wales, the United Kingdom and the European Union.