8. Will the First Minister make a statement on his support for a people’s vote on Brexit? OAQ53978

I thank the Member for that question. As I said earlier, Llywydd, a contest between candidates for leadership of the Conservative Party means that the context has changed in relation to the policy that has been pursued by this Government. In these circumstances, the National Assembly, which voted on 30 January that the only option is to give the decision back to the people, finds that that is the position that we have now reached, and I have reaffirmed my support for the National Assembly’s position.

Thank you, First Minister. I'm sure you recognise that many of us from across the Assembly very much welcome your announcement of support for a people's vote, but do you also recognise that absolute clarity is needed and that it's essential that yourself and all your representatives in any forum, including the Labour Party, are crystal clear? So, will you confirm that you support a people's vote in all circumstances and that you will campaign and press for one at every opportunity, and that when that people's vote comes you will be the leading voice in Wales for us remaining in the EU?

Well, I thank the Member for that question and for her welcome of my reaffirmation of the position that we are in—that with the possibility of a deal having evaporated, then putting that decision back to the people, as this Assembly said, becomes the only option. I want to assure her that in the meantime, the Government has gone on pressing the UK Government to make the necessary preparations for such a referendum, which was also highlighted in that debate in front of the National Assembly. My colleague Jeremy Miles has discussed this on three separate occasions now with David Lidington, pressing him to take the action that the UK Government needs to take to make sure that a referendum can be a practical possibility. We will go on making that case to him, and I provide her with the assurance that she is looking for that, if a referendum is brought about, this Government will campaign to remain in the European Union and members of the Government will be there with others making that case and trying to persuade people in Wales that their future is better secured in that way.

Thank you, First Minister.