Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 25 October 2022.
When you were in Ireland recently, you reiterated your view that the United Kingdom represents, for Wales, a great insurance policy, but how is that policy working for us when the contract can constantly be changed over our heads, against our wishes and against our interests? You talked about the pooling of risk through the union, but surely the events of the last few weeks have demonstrated that the union actually exposes us in Wales to risk, to uncertainty and to avoidable harm. Now, you've said you would never ever support an independent Wales, but would you accept that there are some circumstances at least—another Tory Government elected against our wishes in Wales, or a Scottish 'yes' vote in an independence referendum—where independence might become, for Wales, and even for your party, the more progressive option? I understand that you prefer a continuing union, but isn't saying 'never' to independence simply wedding ourselves to a future that will be never our own to decide?