Brexit deal threatens to undermine Wales’ rural economy
Simon Thomas, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs, reflects on the continuing uncertainties facing the Welsh farming sector with Brexit looming – and argues that the Welsh Government was wrong to strike a deal with the UK
WITH some 300 days to go until we are supposed to leave the European Union, we still don’t know how farming and rural communities will be funded and how we will get to use the powers currently at an EU level here in Wales.
One thing now seems almost certain. The National Assembly won’t get to decide many farming and environment policies for seven long years.
The Labour Welsh Government has done a deal with the Conservative London Government which sets aside at least 24 EU powers to be decided ultimately by Westminster, not Wales.
This isn’t a stale constitutional argument. How can we be said to be taking back control when, instead of flooding back to Wales, the powers over agriculture, the environment, GM crops, pesticides, public procurement and Welsh food-branding will be held back by a Westminster dam of Gove, Johnson and May?
Their EU Withdrawal Bill threatens to undermine the powers vested in Assembly Members by reversing the will of the Welsh people who voted in 1997 and 2011 for more powers.
For the first time for 20 years, Whitehall departments will be making decisions about Welsh farming, environment and fishery policy.
I agree that these are vital areas for the whole of the UK. But any decisions on them should be made on a shared governance basis and by a properly constituted UK Council of Ministers with a robust decisionmaking and disputes resolution process.
Otherwise we run the risk of a future Westminster government making a trade deal that is detrimental to Wales – for example to open up our markets to cheap, poor-welfare meat or to forbid the marketing of our excellent food under the Welsh dragon.
A good reputation for food from Wales overseas is essential for our exports. PGI (protected geographical indication) status on lamb and beef from Wales has increased exports 25%.
Over half of consumers in Italy, Germany, Sweden and Denmark say that they would prefer to buy meat with a PGI status. This is now at risk.
But what about the money for our rural communities? Currently, with about 5% of the Welsh population, Wales gets 9.8% of the entire EU Common Agricultural Policy spend in Wales. Nearly £300m a year.
There is no guarantee that this will continue after March 2019.
The UK Government’s Agriculture Minister, George Eustice MP, has told Plaid Cymru that funding will be maintained at the current UK level until 2022. But that is not the same as guaranteeing Wales will get the exact same share. Moreover, after 2022, funding will be matter for the UK Government as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review process.
This means, at best, that funding will be determined every three years rather than every seven. It also means that agriculture and rural communities will have to fight for their funding against hospitals, schools, defence and pensions.
Who do you think will win the day?
The London Tory Government’s failure so far to propose an exit from the EU that keeps us in the Customs Union and Single Market will cut off a vital market for our farmers.
Fundamental to our view of governance is that sovereignty rests with the people of Wales – people voted to take control, not hand the remote control to Westminster over agricultural and environmental policies.
If Brexit goes ahead, then Wales must have a say on any final separation deal.
At every level of government, Plaid Cymru will do everything it can to keep Westminster’s grubby hands off our powers. Our message is clear – Westminster, hands off our agricultural and environmental powers, hands off our parliament.
■ Simon Thomas is also a Plaid Cymru AM for mid and west Wales.