Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Europe, Mark Isherwood AM, has condemned those seeking to undermine the development of a new relationship with the EU, including Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones.
Speaking in yesterday’s Assembly Debate on ‘The Implications for Wales of Leaving the European Union’, Mr Isherwood referred to the Prime Minister’s letter last Wednesday, when she formally notified the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Union, which stated that the decision of the people of the United Kingdom to leave the EU ‘was no rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans.... the United Kingdom wants the European Union to succeed and prosper…. We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe—and we want to remain committed partners and allies to our friends across the continent.’
He stressed that the UK Government is closely engaged with a high-level stakeholder working group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation, to ensure that the UK builds on its strong global position in research and innovation excellence after leaving the EU.
He said: “There is already agreement between the UK and the EU that guaranteed rights for EU citizens living in the UK, and for UK citizens living in the EU, will be a priority for the negotiations. The Prime Minister stated that supporting integration and social cohesion means fully respecting and, indeed, strengthening the devolution settlements, but, she said, never allowing our union to become looser and weaker, or our people to drift apart.
“Speaking on the Article 50 process in the House of Commons, she expressed her expectation that the outcome of this process will be a significant increase in the decision-making powers of each devolved administration. Although uncompromising on core principles, the EU draft negotiating guidelines have flexibility to allow for a deal acceptable to both sides. In response to that, the UK Government reiterated that it is seeking a deep and special relationship with the EU on trade and the many other areas where we have shared aims and values, and that it is confident that such an outcome is in the interests of both sides.”
“When our great union of UK nations sets its mind on something and works together, we are an unstoppable force. No-one in the UK or the EU wins if everyone ends up weaker from this process.
“So, let us condemn and reject any single-issue, bandwagon-jumping ‘enemy within’ who seeks to undermine the development of a new relationship with the EU in order to weaken and divide our islands and destroy our United Kingdom, whether they’re in Scotland or whether they’re simply mimicking their heroes from Scotland. With optimism, we can embrace this opportunity to build a dynamic, global future, but this will only happen if ‘Carwyn’s Doomsday Cult’ climbs off its one-trick pony.”