Plaid Cymru launches ‘positive post-Brexit plan’
PLAID Cymru has launched what it describes as a “positive post-Brexit plan”, aimed at making Brexit work for Wales.
The launch took place in the party’s target seat of Llanelli, which voted for Brexit in last year’s referendum.
The five points in the plan are: A foreign trade shield to protect Welsh jobs and wages; new financial levers to give Wales a competitive advantage; a Buy Welsh procurement initiative to support Welsh firms; a Welsh “New Deal” incorporating continued regional development funding and agriculture support for a decade after Brexit, and secure Wales’ fair share of UK investment on infrastructure, research and innovation; and a Welsh migration service to ensure a migration system that works for Wales.
Plaid finance spokesman Adam Price, the AM for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, said: “Plaid Cymru wanted Wales to stay in the European Union but we respect the result of the referendum.
“The debate has to now move on to the task of making it work for Wales and not just the City of London and the south east of England. It is about creating the kind of Wales we want beyond Brexit.
“While our preferred option would be to maintain our membership of the single market and the Customs Union, both the Labour Party and the Conservatives have committed to leaving both.
“It is our responsibility therefore to outline a contingency plan – to show how we can mitigate the risks and capitalise on the opportunities of Brexit.
“It is time to move on and face the political realities of the situation.
“Our positive post-Brexit plan is based around five key policy areas which will enable Wales not only to withstand the impact of Brexit, but to thrive.
“It will enable the Welsh economy to stand on its own two feet, it will give workers and communities across Wales the well-paid jobs they deserve and give our business community a competitive advantage, driving our economy.
“Wales needs the money, the powers and fundamentally the respect it deserves to succeed. And it is only by electing Plaid Cymru MPs that we will get it.
“The money to keep the cogs of our economy turning; the powers so that we can take decisions into our own hands; and the respect to ensure that we can hold our head high as a nation.”