Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Europe, Mark Isherwood AM, has this afternoon welcomed the UK Government’s 12 negotiating objectives for withdrawal from the European Union and the publication of its White Paper.
Speaking in the Assembly debate ‘Securing Wales' Future: Transition from the European Union to a new relationship with Europe’, Mr Isherwood moved an Amendment recognising the result of the referendum about the UK’s membership of the European Union, welcoming the UK Government’s 12 negotiating objectives for withdrawal from the European Union and the publication of its White Paper, noting the UK Government’s intention to seek to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, recognising the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting held in Cardiff and welcoming the Prime Minister’s continued commitment to engage with the devolved administrations and secure the right deal for Wales and the United Kingdom.
Mr Isherwood referred to the fact that the UK Government White Paper states “no decisions currently taken by the devolved administrations will be taken away from them, and indeed that more decisions will be devolved”.
Speaking in the Chamber he said:
“The Welsh Conservatives are clear: as echoed by the Prime Minister, there will be no ‘land grab’ on competencies which are under the current power of devolved administrations. This must respect the current devolved settlement as funding, schemes and initiatives are returned from the European Union.
“Welsh Conservatives have written to the Prime Minister making the case for Agriculture to be given priority in the EU Exit negotiations – and, speaking in Wales last week, the UK DEFRA Secretary expressed her determination to secure export markets for high quality Welsh produce after we have left the EU.”
Mr Isherwood added:
“The message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of EU citizens who come to the UK from Europe. We will continue to attract the brightest and the best, allowing a sovereign UK to determine and meet the workforce needs of our economy and society, be they engineers, scientists, health professionals, carers or farm workers, but the voice of the people was clear: there must be control.
“EU nationals can claim the right to permanent residence, without any conditions, if they have lived here legally for five years continuously. Whilst the UK remains in the EU, EU nationals here continue to have the same rights as they have now.
“The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals here – and the only circumstances that would not be possible are if UK citizens’ rights in other EU member states are not protected in return.”
He added: “Despite Welsh Government representations at the Appeal into the High Court decision that Parliament must vote on the process to take the UK out of the EU, the Supreme Court made clear that the consent of the devolved administrations is not necessary before Article 50 is triggered.
“The High Court has also since blocked a legal challenge arguing that Parliament must also approve the UK’s exit from the European Economic Area.
“The people’s vote to leave the EU in last June’s Referendum – including Bridgend (Carwyn Jones’ Constituency) and Rhondda Cynon Taf (Leanne Wood’s Constituency) - must be respected.
“The people of Britain, including Wales, have made the decision to leave the EU and the UK Government is determined to get on with the job of delivering it. However, as every responsible Government knows, you don’t show your cards before negotiations begin.”