Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Europe Mark Isherwood AM has accused Plaid Cymru of being “trapped in an ideological straight jacket of false perceptions and divisive prejudice” in relation to the European Union Withdrawal Bill and Devolution.
Speaking in yesterday’s Assembly Debate on the Bill and Devolution, Mr Isherwood said:
“Last week the UK Government and the Welsh Government confirmed that they had reached an agreement on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill for subsequent tabling in the UK Parliament.
“This means that the Welsh Government will now recommend that the National Assembly for Wales pass a Legislative Consent Motion for the Bill.
“Once again, having done an issue to death one week, Plaid Cymru seek to follow it into the afterlife the next.
“Trapped in an ideological straight jacket of false perceptions and divisive prejudice, they just can’t help themselves!
“The agreement reached required compromise on both sides, where each recognised the need for UK-wide frameworks in specific areas to avoid disruption to the UK’s own internal market.
“It is regrettable that Plaid Cymru seem not to share that recognition.”
Mr Isherwood stressed that the proposed changes to the Bill will mean that the vast majority of EU powers that intersect with devolved competences will go directly to the devolved Parliaments when the United Kingdom leaves the EU.
He added:
“Whilst powers over devolved policy will continue to lie with this National Assembly, the UK Government would be given temporary powers over a small number of returning policy areas so that UK-wide frameworks can replace the EU rulebook, in order to ensure that no new barriers are created within the UK for consumers and businesses.
“The Agreement between the UK and Welsh Governments means that although UK Ministers will be able to specify through regulations policy areas where devolved competence would be subject to a “freeze” whilst new frameworks are agreed, they must seek the agreement of the devolved legislatures each time they propose to make regulations to put a policy area into the clause 11 “freeze”.
“Although the UK Parliament will be able to approve the regulations creating the “freeze” if a devolved legislature’s agreement is refused or not provided within 40 days, this will be subject to UK Ministers making a statement to UK Parliament explaining why they have decided to make regulations despite the absence of a devolved legislature’s agreement - and laying any statement from the Welsh Government on why consent was not given.
“Contrary to Plaid Cymru claims, Assembly lawyers informed the External Affairs Committee on Monday that the UK Parliament will be unable to assume that the Assembly has consented when its ‘consent decision’ was to refuse consent.”
Mr Isherwood also quashed Plaid Cymru fears that the time-limit, or “sunset” clause, on any temporary restriction of devolved competencies could be extended, by stating “this intergovernmental agreement means that although a sunset clause cannot be extended, it can be shortened”.