From inception, Teresa May’s Government has made it clear that its vision for the UK outside the EU is for a fully independent, sovereign state - and that the right deal for the UK as we leave the European Union will be one that it is unique and not an “off the shelf” solution.
As our amendment states, we propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
- Welcomes the Prime Minister's intention to build a powerful new relationship with the European Union that works for the United Kingdom and Wales.
- Recognises the importance of trade with Europe and the rest of the world, which is vital to the future of the Welsh economy.
- AND welcomes the UK Government's commitment to secure a strong trading relationship which provides British companies with the freedom to trade and operate in the Single Market and that reciprocal arrangements should be extended to EU businesses trading and operating in the UK.
As he visited Norway, the First Minister said Wales needs “full and unfettered” access to the European Single Market – whilst also claiming to accept the need for the repatriation of border controls - knowing full well that this is implausable.
Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, Keir Starmer, has proposed “reasonable” controls on numbers entering the UK - and Former Liberal Democrat Minister Vince Cable has argued that it is politically necessary to limit immigration from the EU as part of the UK’s Brexit deal.
As Teresa May states “We will decide for ourselves how we control immigration and we will be free to pass our own laws. We want to give UK companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market – and let European businesses do the same here”.
As she also emphasises “getting the best outcome for the UK means not putting all our cards on the table”.
Some might suggest that only those seeking to undermine Brexit say otherwise!
Some warned of dire consequences and instant recession for the UK economy if the people voted to leave the EU last June.
Instead the UK was the fastest growing G7 economy in 2016.
- Global businesses like Google and Nissan have said they will be creating new jobs in Britain.
- The UK’s manufacturing sector grew at its fastest rate for over two and a half years.
- UK employment is at a record high.
- The UK construction sector grew at its fastest rate in almost a year.
- And the UK’s services sector grew at its fastest rate in 17 months.
Countries around the world, like China and Australia, are exploring how to do more trade with us after we leave the EU.
AND yesterday we heard from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair that a US-UK trade deal would be a priority.
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement showed an £11.6 bn saving in net contribution in 2019-20 once we were out of the EU.
A new Civitas study has found that although the UK Government would need to provide almost £9 billion in support for businesses to cope with the impact of failing to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, the cost would be covered by tariffs on corresponding exports from the remaining 27 EU members to the UK.
This is a stark reminder to EU leaders of the need to enter Brexit negotiations with the aim of achieving an outcome which benefits everyone.
As the NFU Vice President said on Anglesey last Thursday “we are going to leave the EU and we must unite and move on – we must see this as an opportunity rather than a threat”.
AND as the Prime Minister said on Sunday "We are leaving. We are coming out. We are not going to be a member of the EU any longer.
"So the question is what is the right relationship for the UK to have with the European Union when we are outside. We will be able to have control of our borders, control of our laws."
"But of course we still want the best possible deal for us, UK companies to be able to trade in and operate within the European Union and also European companies to be able to trade with the UK and operate within the UK."
“When people voted in the Referendum on June 23, yes, they voted to leave the EU, but they also voted for change, and this year, 2017, is the year where we start to make th