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On the seventh anniversary of the Brexit vote, Plaid Cymru’s leader has called on Wales and the rest of the UK to rejoin the single market and “undo Brexit damage”.
The UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum on June 23 2016 with 51.9% of the vote.
Now, Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, has criticised what he refers to as the “false and empty promises” from the Conservative Party and Labour Party’s inability to provide “answers”.
Mr ap Iorwerth has outlined practical steps that his party would take to create a closer relationship with the EU.
He said that these steps, detailed in a five-point plan, would “directly address” key failures of Brexit including tackling worker shortages, reducing barriers on trade, and restoring powers to the Senedd on development funding.
What is Plaid Cymru’s five-point plan?
1. Prepare to rejoin the single market
The UK Government should align food safety and veterinary standards with the EU to reduce barriers and ensure a smooth flow of agricultural and food products. A new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and veterinary equivalence agreement with the EU would ease costs for businesses, and would lay the groundwork for rejoining the single market.
2. Bring back opportunities for young people
The UK should rejoin Erasmus and negotiate reciprocal youth mobility visa schemes to enable young to travel, work, and gain experience in both the UK and EU countries. This would cultural exchange, enhances opportunities, and give young people in Wales more opportunities.
3. Devolve visa schemes to Wales
We should grant the devolved governments the ability to manage our own visa schemes, including the creation of a shortage occupation list. This would address specific worker shortages in Wales and attract skilled workers from the EU, contributing to economic growth and addressing skills gaps.
4. Reduce barriers at Welsh ports
The UK could immediately improve border and customs processes at ports like Holyhead and Fishguard, by implementing a single window system for trade data entry and digitising import and export processes. These measures streamline trade, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance the efficiency of cross-border movements.
5. Devolve funding schemes
Restore devolved powers over development funding to empower the Welsh Government to invest in Wales’ priorities. Immediate action should be taken by the UK Government to reinstate the principle of allocating funding based on relative need. This approach would not only restore respect in devolution but would also alleviate the burdens faced by local authorities, which currently bear the immense pressure of coordinating funding bids.
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: “Seven years on and the economic reality of Brexit has been laid bare for all to see.
“Inflation is higher in the UK than in other European countries. Import costs are higher. There’s a shortage of workers in key sectors like the NHS, hospitality, and tourism.”
Adding that Brexit is projected to reduce the value of Welsh exports by approximately £1.1bn he continued: “Plaid Cymru remains committed to wanting the closest ties as possible with Europe and believe EU membership was – and remains – in Wales’ best interest.
“But at the very least we must become members of the Single Market and Customs Union with urgency to not only undo the economic damage caused by Westminster’s botched Brexit but to put more money in the pockets of the people of Wales at a time where they need it the most.”
Also commenting on the anniversary of the vote, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS said: “Since the vote we have taken advantage of our ability to sign new trade deals with the growing economies of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, with many more on the way.
“We been able to undertake one of the fastest, world-beating vaccine rollouts to combat Covid-19 directly thanks to Brexit and to those who say we stand alone internationally, I say that we have been instrumental in our world-leading efforts to support the people of Ukraine during Putin’s barbaric invasion.
“The democratic institutions of the United Kingdom are sovereign again, with powers returning Westminster and the Senedd.
“While we have now left the EU, there is more to be done to reap the rewards of Brexit and battles to be won with Labour Ministers in the Senedd who never accepted this result, simply refusing to bring the benefits of Brexit to Wales.”
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