Brexit challenges debated as Article 50 triggered

Wales
Welsh Labour
Plaid Cymru
Article 50
Wednesday 29 March 2017 at 6:30am

The EU flag still flies over the Senedd in Cardiff Bay -for now. Credit: ITV News Cymru Wales

The Welsh Government will face demands for an immediate response in the Senedd to the triggering of article 50. Plaid Cymru's been given permission to propose an urgent debate within hours of the British Ambassador to the EU handing the letter triggering Brexit to the President of the European Council. Prime Minister, Theresa May, who signed the letter, will address MPs but First Minister Carwyn Jones has already issued his response.

Our white paper sets out a sensible negotiating position for the UK as a whole, and has already influenced the UK Government’s approach in important areas including maintaining full access to the Single Market, upholding existing employment rights and the importance of transitional arrangements. While we have often been frustrated with the processes by which we’ve arrived at this point today, we must now concentrate on the job in hand. We stand ready to work constructively with the UK Government to secure a deal which protects Welsh businesses, our economy and the future prosperity of Wales. If, as negotiations progress, we believe our priorities are not being championed or our representation falls below a level we find acceptable, we will not remain silent. We will not allow Wales to be side-lined – we will be outspoken and our voice will be heard.

At the same time Labour's devolution taskforce will meet in Cardiff to discuss ideas to redistribute powers and resources across the nations and regions of the UK after Brexit. It's something that Carwyn Jones has wanted since the referendum result last year. But it's the prospect of another referendum -on Scottish independence- that has given the idea more urgency,

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will join the First Minister at the launch event.

On the day the United Kingdom formally begins the process of leaving the European Union, it is clear that our constitution is no longer fit for purpose. The Brexit vote was in part an angry revolt of Britain’s left-behind regions against the country’s financial, cultural and political elites. Underlying this are deep-seated economic inequalities that drive divisions in the UK. The key to bridging social and economic inequalities lies in embracing a more decentralised United Kingdom, thus strengthening the bonds that tie our four nations together. In addition to the devolution of powers and finance, there is also a case for examining reforms to the centre – including setting out the division of powers between Westminster and the different parts of the UK, and replacing the unelected House of Lords with an elected Senate of the Nations and Regions. It is only by empowering the nations and regions that we can address the country’s social, economic and constitutional inequalities – and unite our deeply divided kingdom.