9. United Kingdom Independence Party Debate: The European Union

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:31 pm on 27 March 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Adam Price Adam Price Plaid Cymru 5:31, 27 March 2019

Look, it's because of that deception that we now have an imperative to be honest with people about the consequences of the choices that are being made tonight. I can see why the shadow trade Secretary this morning said that Labour was not a remain party; that Labour would not support the revoke amendments, et cetera, but now is not the time to be politically expedient or to be equivocal. We have to make our choice and our voices clear. I'm not going to say anything more about UKIP. I'm glad there are cordon sanitaires now opened up between us. So, look, let's not talk about them.

As far as the Conservative Party—your amendment, like your politics, is empty. I mean, 'Keep calm and carry on' may be a nice poster, but it's not a political strategy when you're facing a brick wall or a cliff edge.

The most disappointing amendment, I have to say, yet again, is the Government's. Like a whole host of Welsh Government statements we've had, it's more significant for what it doesn't say. It omits to mention the idea—the central idea, surely—of a confirmatory referendum or a people's vote. That fails to recognise, in our view, that the key dividing line on this key issue of our times is no longer, actually, between a soft or a hard Brexit; the debate has moved on. It's between Brexit and no Brexit. The Government amendment says that

'whatever the outcome of the current negotiations, the United Kingdom should seek to maintain the closest possible economic, social and environmental links between the UK and the other 27 states which make up the EU.'

I wholeheartedly agree with that. But surely the closest possible relationship is to remain within the EU, and if you believe that, then say it.

Our amendment is an honest attempt to rectify this omission. As Westminster conducts its own indicative votes, we need to indicate here, tonight, that we are ready to do our part. It's not enough for us to call on the UK Government to make preparations for a people's vote; we have a responsibility too. We need to prepare—to prepare the argument—so let's pass the amendment in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth and meet this week, as leaders in our respective parties, across party and build the campaign for the referendum and also start to plan to win that campaign. What greater contrast to the series of divisions that we'll see at Westminster tonight than to strike a note of unity here in Wales?