Assembly to make its move in this tense game of Brexit chess
Today, the Senedd will vote to give their verdict on Theresa May’s Brexit deal. Here, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price calls on the Assembly to vote for a second referendum...
THE 3D chess game that is being played around Brexit is about to go up a gear – it is about to become 3D speed chess.
The first move in this chess game happens today, when the National Assembly for Wales will vote to give their opinion on the Westminster Government’s Brexit agreement.
It is a Brexit agreement that is bad for Wales.
Every scenario means economic damage for our nation – that is not according to my analysis, but that of the Conservative Westminster Government trying to pursue this plan.
According to Theresa May and her government, the Welsh economy will be billions worse off in all scenarios other than one in which we continue our membership of the European Union.
That means jobs will be lost and wages adversely affected.
Combined Single Market and Customs Union membership would go some way in mitigating the negative effects of leaving the European Union.
However, both Westminster parties, Labour and Conservative, have taken this option of the table. For their version of Brexit to be realised, they are happy to see significant economic damage done to our country.
This is not to mention the situation with Northern Ireland – due to an impossible series of promises by the Westminster Government to try and keep the border open between the north and Republic of Ireland, they have had to give the former special status in their agreement.
A special status that will give Northern Ireland a competitive advantage over Wales.
Again, that is not my analysis, but that of the Westminster Government pushing this agreement.
The one government you would expect to be on our nation’s side is the one with “Welsh” in front of it. Somehow, however, the Labour party, propped up by the last Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member which makes up the Welsh Government is managing to do quite the opposite.
You would expect them to reject this deal out of hand. A deal that makes our people poorer, puts us at a competitive disadvantage and offers no guarantees on the future of our ports, participation in European projects and environmental standards is not a deal a Welsh Government could surely endorse.
Of course, this is a Labour Party that has consistently voted against the Welsh interest on Brexit. Be it on a People’s Vote – where they voted against – or devolved powers – where they made a deal with Westminster to hand them back – they have failed to vote in the Welsh national interest time after time.
It is no surprise therefore that this time looks like it will be no different.
The vote has not yet happened, but it is almost all over before it started.
In chess, you are not allowed to move yourself into check. And yet, the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay has pretty much managed to do exactly that.
The “motion” down for debate – Labour’s preferred approach to Brexit – doesn’t even take a view about whether the Assembly should accept Westminster’s Withdrawal Agreement or not.
It offers a vague menu of options, with no clear way forward.
The reason for this is disappointingly simple. At a time of national crisis, Labour are looking after themselves rather than the national interest.
Although the majority of Labour AMs think a People’s Vote is the way forward, their Westminster bosses have told them to push for an election instead.
The same goes for Single Market membership.
Like the Tories, Labour are busy trying to paper over internal cracks rather than take a coherent position on a way forward.
The non-partisan campaign group, Wales for Europe, made a rare criticism of the Labour Welsh Government, claiming their motion was weak and offered a “false choice”.
At the final hour Labour are choosing political expediency over practical solutions.
Plaid Cymru will do our job – we will put the Welsh national interest first. We will push a vote on a People’s Vote, with the option to remain in the European Union.
It will be a matter of integrity or party loyalty for Labour Members as to whether our option will pass or not.
Of course, our underpowered Parliament cannot deliver a People’s Vote by itself.
But if Labour give licence to the Tories and fail to reject their Withdrawal Agreement without a People’s Vote, they will be forever remembered on the wrong side of history.
Chess is deceptively simple game. But the game Labour are playing with the future of Wales is not in our nation’s interest.
Today, I implore Labour Members – vote with your conscience, ignore your motion and put the Welsh national interest first. Use your vote to give the people theirs. Vote for a People’s Vote.