Our UK has secured a trade deal with the EU that many thought was impossible.
This is a truly historic moment for we Britons across our 4 Nations.
It is the first time the EU has ever agreed a zero tariffs, zero quota trade deal –
- A deal that enables an outward-looking, Global Britain to strike trade deals with new markets as a liberal, free trading, force for good in the World;
- A deal that takes back control of our money, borders, laws and trade, whilst providing Welsh businesses with access to the EU market;
- A deal described by European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen as “fair and balanced”.
- AND, as the Welsh Conservative amendment to this Debate Motion therefore states, a deal we should welcome.
Instead, this petulant politburo of pouting picklepusses has hauled us back at great public expense – and even greater public indifference – for a pathetically predictable Debate on a trite and tawdry Motion.
More whinge and wail, sneer and scaremonger.
GET OVER IT: THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR BREXIT, BREXIT IS DONE – AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF DEVOLUTION, YOU DIDN’T GET YOUR OWN WAY!
In the real World:
- Experts say the post-Brexit trade deal will help the economy bounce back in 2021 after a bleak year dominated by the coronavirus crisis.
- Britain's biggest business organisation, the CBI, praised the 'courage' of Boris Johnson and political leaders for a 'landmark achievement'.
As its Director General said: 'The UK has a bright future outside the European Union and with a deal secured we can begin our new chapter on firmer ground’.
- Last week it emerged that the UK economy grew by 16 per cent between July and September - the largest quarterly expansion in the UK economy since records began.
- Even before the Deal, this Month’s Treasury Forecasts for the UK economy, based upon a monthly comparison of independent forecasts, averaged 5.4% growth in 2021, with Goldman Sachs expecting the economy to grow by 7% next year, and both JP Morgan and Pantheon Macroeconomics predicting 7.5%.
Even one of the more pessimistic Accountancy Firms, which had only forecast economic growth of 3.3 per cent in 2021 without a Deal, increased this to 6.1 per cent after the Deal was announced.
- AND. four days ago, the Centre for Economic and Business Research announced that Britain has become the world's fifth-largest economy once again, and is set to push further ahead of seventh-placed France in the decade after Brexit.
The Deal includes a commitment to maintaining high labour, environment and climate standards.
The Deal means the UK can now regulate in a way that suits the UK economy and UK businesses.
The Deal ensures streamlined co-operation on law enforcement can continue - and provides for future cooperation between the UK and EU on emerging security challenges, such as cyber and health security.
The Deal allows us to introduce a modern subsidy system that can better support businesses to grow and thrive.
The Deal secures continued market access across a broad scope of key service sectors, including professional and business services.
The Deal includes protections for the UK’s internal market and Northern Ireland's place within it.
The Deal includes arrangements for airlines and hauliers that provide them certainty and give people the ability to travel to and from the EU easily for work and holidays.
UK residents will be able to benefit from a wide range of social security rights when travelling, working and living in the EU, including access to an uprated state pension - and to reciprocal healthcare arrangements which will allow them to access necessary healthcare when travelling in the EU under the same type of arrangements that currently exist.
EU citizens who live, work or study in Wales now will continue to enjoy their rights under the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme.
World-renowned Welsh products such as Welsh lamb, Welsh laverbread and the Denbigh Plum will be protected in both the EU and the UK with geographical indications.
The Welsh Government said it wanted a Deal and we will now be ending the transition period with one.
The Deal provides continuity and opportunities for the Welsh economy, and meets the UK Government’s commitment to maintain high standards.
Instead of perpetuating the bitterness surrounding the 2016 referendum, the Deal allows politics to move on and devote its energies to the future.
But with big change comes challenge and opportunity.
As the Prime Minister said, “Freedom is what you make of it”.