Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition (in respect of his European transition responsibilities) – in the Senedd at 3:05 pm on 11 November 2020.
Well, we are way beyond the point at which the UK Government's response ought to be coloured by political considerations—50 days before the end of the transition period—and we seek continuously to be collaborative in working with the UK Government to prepare Wales as best we can for the end of the transition period. But I'm not going to pretend for a moment that we have a very different view about our future relationship with the European Union. That is absolutely clear, and we think the UK Government needs to change course at this point and to prioritise jobs and livelihoods. I'm going to resist the invitation in the Member's question to take up the point about the European Union's role in this set of negotiations. UK citizens are entitled to look to the UK Government to protect their interests. UK Government took back control. The UK Government's in control, and if this deal doesn't happen, or happens on a weak basis, it's on them.