Politicians representing Caerphilly County Borough have reacted to the news that Britain will leave the EU, as Wales votes overwhelming for Brexit.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David has put onus on the fact that trade must be at the forefront of any future planning, saying: “I am very disappointed with last night’s referendum result. The important thing, however, is now to look to the future and to recognise that Britain, and especially Wales, must not look inward but forge new relationships with Europe and the wider world.
“Trade is vital to our economic well-being and we must do our utmost to ensure that we are able to export easily to as many markets as possible.
“We must also reject intolerance and prejudice. In the modern world, it is vital that we work with others across national borders and recognise that there is more which unites human beings than divides them.”
Caerphilly’s Assembly Member, Hefin David, wants Wales to take charge of their own withdrawal from the EU, stating: “Although it wasn’t my personal preference, I fully accept the result of the democratic process and the decision by a majority of the people of Wales to leave the EU.
“My priority now is the well-being of the people of Caerphilly and of Wales. I want to move forward in a way that will protect our jobs and our economy. This means that the Welsh Government must represent and protect the interests of our society in discussions about the timing and terms of UK withdrawal from the EU.
“Wales benefits from hundreds of millions of pounds of EU funding. Tory MPs Michael Gove and Boris Johnson promised that Wales will not lose a penny in funding if we leave. I will hold them to that and I want that commitment honoured.
“Wales’s withdrawal from the EU should be led by Wales. I also feel that we need to think carefully about the nature of devolution and the role of our National Parliament of Wales in what will be a very different United Kingdom.”
South Wales East Assembly Member, Mark Reckless, believes that Brexit will allow the Welsh Government to have better control of local powers, telling BBC Radio Wales: “This is something I’ve campaigned for my whole adult life, and I’m over the moon that we’ve taken a decision as the UK that we’re more than just a star on someone’s flag, and that Wales voted Leave.
“We have really positive things to focus on, because rather than zero in on some fight between Westminster and Cardiff Bay, we can look at these powers held at the European Union, and think which of these are actually better exercised at Cardiff Bay, Westminster, or devolved down to local councils.
“For the country as a whole, it’s £14.6 billion that comes from the UK to Wales, and we don’t want to put that at risk by having the fiscal devolution and tax raising powers without the referendum they promised, and that’s where UKIP stands, to try and keep our United Kingdom together rather than just Cardiff Bay taking more and more powers without respect to our being one country together, as well as having devolution in Wales.”
Islwyn MP, Chris Evans, hopes that campaign differences can be put aside to rebuild bridges and come together: “This is not the result I campaigned for over the past few weeks. However I am passionately proud of our democracy and I fully respect the decisive will of the British people.
“What comes next will be a challenge, of that there can be no doubt. Many harsh words have been said between all sides of the debate and the country is near equally split between two very legitimate points of view, but now is the time to come together and rebuild bridges.
“That is why I will be working tirelessly alongside my colleagues in Parliament, as well as local communities and businesses to ensure that whatever happens along the new path the people have chosen for our country, we make the best of it, keep calm and carry on, as we have always done as a country.”
Meanwhile Islwyn’s Assembly Member, Rhianon Passmore, believes that the values on which people voted should be honoured, saying: “I am deeply disappointed that the EU Referendum has resulted in a leave vote. It is my considered view that it will have a negative impact on jobs and funding for Wales. However, as a democrat I respect the decision of the electorate.
“It is important that we as Welsh Labour learn lessons and re-engage with our working class voters who agreed with the Leave line that European money was our money anyway and that it would be allocated to Wales.
“There is no question that major emphasis on immigration has been the deciding issue raised and it is imperative we recognise peoples’ concerns. Today the First Minister rightly called on the campaign promises of Leave ‘that Wales will not lose a penny in funding’ to be honoured. The Welsh Government will strongly insist on that commitment being honoured.”
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney‘s Labour AM Dawn Bowden AM said: “Having campaigned hard for a Remain vote I am clearly disappointed that there was a majority Leavevote both in my Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency and the UK as a whole.
“For me the priority must now be to hold to account those who advocated “Brexit” during the campaign to deliver on the promises made to the people of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney to allocate to our deprived communities the money that was part of the UK’s contribution to the EU, and was being invested in the area through EU funded schemes to the tune of millions of pounds. We also look for a commitment to the provision of the funding for schemes which will be vital to the future economic recovery of the area such as the South East Wales Metro, Heads of the Valley dualling from Dowlais to Hirwaun, which were reliant on EU funding.
“I will be working non stop to fight for this funding and I will expect all politicians who called for a Leave to do likewise and I will be holding them to account if they fail to deliver on their promises.”
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP Gerald Jones said: “It is clear that the referendum caused division across the whole country including here in our constituency. The democratic process has to be respected including by those of us who had a different vision for our country’s future. The reality is that we now have a period of huge uncertainty, therefore, my priority is to do everything possible to seek assurances from the UK Government regarding support for ongoing EU funded regeneration projects and for the many local jobs reliant on or linked to EU funds.”
This is a `decision` made by the plebs, live with it for goodness sake, and do what is necessary now to rid us of the worse of membership of the EU and work towards preserving the Best of it. This will now test the quality of our politicians and sort the men from the `weaker` boys. And one very positive outcome will be that come election time the voters will be able to judge each politician on his or her actions, and the `excuse` that “we could`nt do that because the EU would`nt allow us to do it” is now out the window.
This decision to exit the EU is real democracy in action, now the message to all those politicain who continue to aspire to high public office in the UK has to be `get on with governing the UK`, if the public dont like what we see we will replace them via the ballot box, something we could not do to EU decision makers prior the Uk exit from the EU
Good lord! I’m in complete agreement with you.
I knew there was something, surprise surprise!