6. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Wales and Europe — Managing a new relationship

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:27 pm on 1 February 2022.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 5:27, 1 February 2022

Thank you. I think there's a couple of points to respond to there from the Member for Ogmore, and I certainly do agree—that's why it's in the statement. We do share values with European countries across the European Union: our democratic values; the fact that we accept election results, whether we like them or not; the fact that we have free and fair elections; the fact that all of us, including Ministers, are equal before the law and subject to the rule of law. These are things we don't see in every other part of the world, and we should not treat them lightly or surrender them for narrow party advantage. We've seen that course and what that means. If you look at America, you've got people prepared to storm the capital in America because they didn't like the outcome of a free and fair election. So, we should guard those values jealously and carefully, whether it's here or in other Governments across the UK as well.

And when it comes to free trade agreements, actually, one of the things that we do think has been valuable has been some of the points on values, on looking at action on people's participation in public life and what we're looking to try and achieve. So, actually, that also includes some of the environmental points that the UK Government did try to build in to the free trade agreement with Australia. So, there are opportunities within those free trade agreements, and that's why we're trying to point out that this is a Government that is committed to taking a constructive approach, and that's why our officials have worked constructively with UK Government ones. It's why we do think it would be sensible to take advantage of not just the experience, but the insight that Welsh Ministers bring, with the mandate we have directly from the people of Wales, in the way that these negotiations could and should be undertaken with the rest of Europe. I don't think it's an unreasonable point of view and, as you say, you, as well as the unusually quiet Alun Davies, also have experience of doing this on a regular basis as part of a team UK that respects the position of the UK Government but other administrations as well.

I look forward to seeing whether the post-European-Union membership actually lives up to the promises that have been made, whether we will see those broken promises being remedied when we finally get the long-delayed levelling-up White Paper, and, given that the Member represents a good chunk of the county of Bridgend, to make sure that need is properly reflected in the way that future funds are going to be delivered. I think the way that Bridgend, Caerphilly and Flintshire were treated in previous pilot rounds was shocking and indefensible. I look forward to a proper framework about how money will be allocated that properly takes account of need in every part of the UK, with a proper role for the Welsh Government, and, indeed, an end to the broken promises, to make sure we get all of the money that we were promised. Regardless of how you voted, that was a direct pledge of the Government of the UK, and one that I expect them to meet.