The EU says it’s ready to engage on a customs union and the single market.
The barrier isn’t Brussels.
It’s the Labour UK Government.
Wales has lost billions from Brexit.
It’s time to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union to rebuild our economy and protect Welsh businesses.
If Starmer Wants Growth, He Must Confront the Truth About Brexit – Plaid Cymru.
PM’s “refusal to face the economic reality of Brexit” risks continued harm to Wales, says Plaid Cymru leader following key UK-EU summit.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS has called on the UK Government to acknowledge the economic impact of Brexit on Wales and take steps to rebuild the UK’s relationship with the European Union by rejoining the Single Market and Customs Union.
He warned that without addressing the structural trade and investment barriers created by Brexit, the UK Government’s priority of driving economic growth will remain significantly constrained – with Wales among the hardest-hit parts of the UK.
His comments come after the UK and EU agreed to a new deal, including a 12-year agreement on EU fishing boats in UK waters. In return, the UK secured an agreement that reduces checks on food exports to the EU.
Mr ap Iorwerth has said that the UK Government has so far “failed to properly reset the relationship with the EU”, warning that without action “the damage will continue”.
By 2025, Brexit will have cost the Welsh economy up to £4 billion, reduced the value of Welsh exports by up to £1.1 billion, and led to a loss of £1 billion in European structural and rural development funding.
Post-Brexit trade agreements between the UK, Australia and New Zealand have also placed additional pressure on Welsh agriculture and manufacturing.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “Today’s summit was a critical opportunity to begin repairing the UK’s broken relationship with Europe.
“If Keir Starmer is serious about his government’s priority of growing the economy, he must seize the opportunity to remove trade barriers with our largest neighbouring market by committing to re-join the Single Market and Customs Union.
“This is the most effective way to reverse the damage inflicted on Welsh communities by Brexit, and his government have thus far failed to use all the tools at their disposal to address this damage.
“If Starmer is serious about resetting the UK’s relationship with Europe, he must heed Plaid Cymru’s calls and grasp at the opportunity to join the Single Market and Customs Union to protect the Welsh economy.”
Plaid Cymru is also calling on the UK Government to create a Youth Mobility Scheme and re-join Erasmus+, to give Welsh young people new opportunities to live, learn and work across Europe.
Parts of the new deal are still subject to negotiation but expect ministers today to be talking up gains on "jobs, bills and the border".
Mr ap Iorwerth continued: “In Wales, Plaid Cymru has never shied away from the realities of Brexit.
“Removing trade barriers with one of the largest and most prosperous markets in the world to give our economy the boost it needs by facilitating the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour across the EU – benefitting both UK businesses and consumers.
“Next year, Wales has an opportunity to elect a government that will advocate for exactly that.
“Plaid Cymru are laying out a clear, positive vision for the future – one that includes reconnecting with Europe for the benefit of our people and economy.
“After 26 years of Labour rule in Wales, people are crying out for a government that sticks to its principles, listens to public opinion, and offers real solutions. While Labour panders to Reform voters and avoids the truth about Brexit, Plaid Cymru stands for hope – and for Wales working with Europe again.”
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Plaid Cymru proposes new law that would undo botched Brexit damage
Wales must reset its relationship with Europe to repair the damage done to the economy caused by Brexit, Plaid Cymru has said.
Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Justice and European Affairs Adam Price MS said that a Plaid Cymru Government would introduce a new act to enable Welsh law to be aligned as closely and quickly as possible with essential European standards when it is in Wales’ best interests.
Mr Price said a new European Alignment Act could help reset the relationship between Wales and Europe to protect the economy at a time of growing global instability. 31st January 2025 will mark five years since the UK formally left the European Union.
According to the Economic Cost of Brexit project, the average person in the UK is now £2,000 worse off as a result of Brexit, amplifying the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The type of Brexit taken by the last government has cost the Welsh economy up to £4 billion.
Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Justice and European Affairs Adam Price MS said,
“Five years on, there can be no doubting the extent of the damage that Brexit done to Wales and the wider UK.
“The form of hard Brexit pursued by the last UK Government has cost the Welsh economy up to £4 billion. Brexit has reduced the value of Welsh exports by up to £1.1 billion. Post-Brexit trade deals have hurt Welsh farmers, fishers and other producers across many key sectors. £1 billion has been lost to Wales in the form of European structural and rural development funding.
“Plaid Cymru believe that returning to the single market and customs union as soon as possible would be the best way to begin to undo this economic damage. Under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour are disappointingly resolute in refusing to acknowledge this starkest of economic realities.
“We need an urgent reset in our relationship with the EU, including securing opportunities for young people in Wales to travel, work and study in Europe, and vice versa.
“It is for this reason that I, and Plaid Cymru, are proposing the new European Alignment Act. Such an Act would restore powers we should never have given up and would enable Welsh law to be aligned as closely and quickly as possible with essential European standards when it is in Wales’ best interests.”
“Wales needs to stick as close as we can to our European friends and allies and remain alive to changes in European politics and policy to protect our communities in an ever more insecure and uncertain world.”
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The news that the UK Treasury has finally announced that the £4.8 billion "levelling up fund" for local projects will now be UK-wide, not England only. This means that Westminster ministers will decide how some of the cash is spent on schemes such as regeneration projects in Wales.
Even the normally inert Welsh Government, has accused the Westminster government of aggressively undermining devolution. The announcement of £4 billion for England last year triggered an extra £800 million for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
However, the Treasury now says it will run the fund for all four UK nations rather than hand any extra cash to the devolved governments. The UK chancellor's Spending Review, had previously announced thats the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would have been able to decide what to do with their share of the £800 million.
To be honest I accent say atheist I am that surprised by this announcement, so much for the BREXIT dividend coming our way without some serious strings being attached. The simple bottom line is that any funds allocated to Cymru / Wales are spent and on what, should be decided here in Cymru / Wales, rathe the in Westminster.
