International Relations

Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:31 pm on 17 November 2020.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:31, 17 November 2020

Thank you, Dawn Bowden, for raising those very important questions. And, of course, the peaceful transfer of power is a critical element to any democracy, and a smooth transition is even more critical, given the times we're in and the need for the incoming administration to prepare and meet the challenge of coronavirus. Of course, it has been widely recognised and supported that our First Minister recently wrote to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden, and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. And I do echo these congratulations—I'm sure we all do—and particularly the fact that the US has the first female Vice President, who will also be the first Asian-American and first African-American Vice President. That's a huge result, which has raised great hope, particularly amongst American people, but across the world. But I think the fact that they stood, the President and Vice-President-elect, on a platform of fighting for equality, tackling racism and also tackling climate change and fighting coronavirus so, so strongly echoes what Wales holds dear, and I, of course, foresee that our relationship with the USA will be a prosperous one. 

But, on your second part of your question, I'm afraid I'm filled with much less optimism, because our focus, and the focus of the UK Government, must be on these incredibly difficult times we're in. In Wales, we're focused as ever on the health and well-being of the nation. We won't be distracted from that, and neither should the UK Government allow itself to be distracted. But the news overnight of Boris Johnson's remarks on devolution, the points that have been echoed in this Chamber this afternoon, really show the lack of engagement on EU transition particularly, but also engagement on how we are working together as four nations to tackle the coronavirus; it does make us more concerned than ever. Chaos in Westminster worsening, I would say, post Cummings, when we need collaboration, we need respect for Wales, the Senedd, and the powers that we're exercising here to keep Wales safe.