Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister (in respect of his Brexit Minister responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 2:50 pm on 22 January 2020.
Minister, thank you for your answer, but for me, like the majority of people in Wales and indeed across the whole of the United Kingdom, I'm really looking forward to a week on Friday, at 11 o'clock, when there will be a bell ringing in my house to celebrate the fact that Wales will be leaving the European Union, along with the rest of the United Kingdom. And it will be leaving the European Union in spite of the best efforts of the Welsh Labour Government, of the Liberal Democrats and, indeed, Plaid Cymru, all of whom have been trying to put obstacles in the way of the democratic will of the people being implemented in this country. And as we move on to the next chapter in our nation's story, we see, in the Conservative Party, that Brexit is an opportunity, and it's an opportunity to deliver for Wales in a way that your Government, frankly, hasn't for over 20 years. There are people, businesses and public services that will benefit from the free trade arrangements and deals that we will now have the freedom to strike with different nations and trading blocs around the world. And, of course, we will not just be limited to having deals with the European Union. Like you, I want a decent free trade agreement with the European Union. And, of course, we'll be able to spend our own taxpayers' money on a new and ambitious regional investment scheme that doesn't just favour certain parts of Wales, like west Wales and the Valleys, but also we can focus attention on other areas of deprivation outside of those places.
Now, I think what has been rather disheartening in recent weeks, since the general election—and there appears to be some changing of the commentary coming from the Welsh Government, certainly today, which I welcome. But there has been, really, a rehashing of the same old arguments, I think, and there hasn't been the sort of positive attitude that I think we really need to have here in Wales about how we can engage with Her Majesty's Government, going forward, to make sure that we are at the table with a strong and powerful voice. So, can I ask what assurances can you give us that you and your colleagues in the Welsh Government will now begin to engage positively and not in a hostile way with the UK Government as it seeks to deliver a positive Brexit for the whole of the United Kingdom, including Wales?