The bill to take the UK out of the European Union will be blocked by the Welsh Government in its current form, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said.
Mr Jones described the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, published yesterday by the UK Government, as a “crude power-grab from London”.
The bill, if passed, will convert EU law into British law under the control of Parliament – including those in areas currently devolved to Wales.
The Scottish Government has also said it will block the bill, which has to have legislative consent granted by Scotland and Wales as it covers areas that are devolved.
Mr Jones said: “I have been clear since the day of the EU referendum result – the UK is leaving the EU and we will work with the UK Government to deliver a sensible Brexit and support a bill which provides clarity and certainty for businesses.
“We have repeatedly tried to engage with the UK government and have put forward constructive proposals about how we can deliver a Brexit which honours the result of the referendum, safeguards the economy and respects devolution.
“Regrettably, our attempts to work with the UK Government have been flatly ignored. Instead of mature and constructive engagement, the UK government has shown astounding ignorance in the publication of this bill, which is an insult to the devolved nations.
“The UK should be entering Brexit negotiations from a position of unity so we have the best possible chance of securing a good deal with the interests of all parts of the UK at its heart. Instead, the government appears determined to provoke a constitutional conflict we do not need.
“If the bill is not amended, there is no prospect of my government recommending the National Assembly should give legislative consent to it.
“We will instead investigate ways in which we can use our existing legislative powers to help defend devolution.”
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood was also critical, telling the BBC: “Wales needs greater powers, not fewer.
“And there’s a real question of democracy here. This is about taking decisions away from people in Wales and Plaid Cymru frankly will not stand for it.”
Secretary of State for Wales, Conservative MP Alun Cairns, said: “The repeal bill will provide certainty and stability for businesses, employees and consumers as the UK prepares to exit the European Union.
“The bill will convert existing EU law into UK domestic law, maintaining the same standards, same rules, same regulations, same measures and the same obligations on the day after exit as the day before.
“Most importantly, it will deliver on our promise to end the supremacy of European Union law in the UK so that our future laws will be made in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.
“For the entire process, the UK Government will consult and listen to businesses, local authorities, the third sector, the Welsh Government and the National Assembly to ensure the UK’s exit from the EU works for Wales and for the UK as a whole.”
These Jokers in Cardiff should realise that Wales voted to come out of the EU. There is no way that Westminster is trying to grab powers that have already been devolved, they have been tryiing to cut the mooring lines between Parliament and Cardiff for years.
It seems Carwyn Jones and the WG also fail to understand the meaning of democracy,as Richard Williams says Wales voted to leave the EU.
Carwyn Jones and other politicians should remember they were elected to carry out the wishes of the public – not to use politics to purely further their own positions and ambitions.
If all parties truly wish for the best deal to be secured for the UK they should stop political point scoring and work together to achieve that.
Surely the powers will get sent to parliament and those powers and laws will then get devolved to respective parliaments and assemblies. The people have voted out and surely these politicians must realise this