The Welsh Government has formalised its opposition to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, claiming it is doing so in order to protect devolved powers.
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has recommended that the National Assembly for Wales does not accept the bill in its current form, after UK Government MPs voted it through its first parliamentary stage by 36 votes on Monday, September 11.
The bill intends to incorporate all relevant EU legislation into British law on the day of Brexit to ensure that rules remain in place before any changes can be made.
However, the First Minister claims the bill “would allow the UK Government to hijack powers which should come to Wales post-Brexit.
“This is not about stopping Brexit”, Mr Jones added. “This is about protecting the interests of the people of Wales.”
Caerphilly MP, Wayne David, voted against the bill on Monday night, saying it was an “undemocratic power grab”.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr David said the bill was “concentrating as much power as possible in the hands of a feeble minority government headed by a caretaker Prime Minister.”
Carwyn Jones, and others, analysis of the outcome of the EU Withdrawal Bill is plain wrong. Might it be that having just lost the argument, the people of Wales voted to leave, they are trying anything possible to frustrate those carrying out the wishes of the people?
I thought most of Wales voted out. It’s nice to be fairly represented by our elected officials.