10. Plaid Cymru Debate: Rejoining the single market

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:36 pm on 6 July 2022.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of James Evans James Evans Conservative 5:36, 6 July 2022

I think there's a great opportunity for our businesses right across the country. Yes, there are issues that need to be ironed out, and that is what the UK Conservative Government are planning to do. If we listened to the nationalists and socialists in here, we would become an insular country with no international presence whatsoever. A lot of important work has already been done to establish a strong co-operation agreement, which is underpinned by provisions ensuring a level playing field and respect for fundamental rights.

There is already a strong partnership agreement in place in terms of trade agreements between the UK and the EU, so there is no need to rejoin the single market. Rejoining the single market is not something that any businesses that I speak to are calling for. Even the Labour Party and the Welsh Government have clearly just smelled the coffee and—