“One telephone conversation” on Brexit since referendum
Despite “hysterical” warnings over the impact of Brexit, the First Minister has held just one meeting – a telephone conversation – with UK Government ministers since the vote on June 23.
The news came in a Written Assembly Question (WAQ) by Andrew RT Davies AM, which revealed that the First Minister has held just one meeting with the UK Government to discuss Brexit, since the vote on June 23.
That was a telephone conversation with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis MP.
Carwyn Jones has previously expressed concerns over the impact that a vote to leave the European Union would have, suggesting that it would “make it more difficult to attract investment into Wales and keep jobs” here.
He also claimed that it would send a message that Wales is “closed for business”, placing jobs and investment at Airbus under threat, whilst harming prospects for TATA steel’s recovery.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said the First Minister’s “borderline hysteria” over the referendum contrasted starkly with his lack of action.
He said:
“The First Minister has spoken in apocalyptic terms about the risk to Wales posed by a Vote to Leave the EU. So it’s very odd that he has managed just one phone call to the UK Government in two months since the vote.
“He also said that Brexit would send out a message that Wales was ‘closed for business’– and yet despite the borderline hysteria, we’ve seen little in the way of action.
“The landscape has moved on since the referendum, and we have a duty of care to the people of Wales to ensure that we get the best possible deal with the European Union.
“Sadly, the Labour Government appears to be willing it to fail, talking down our prospects and refusing to engage constructively with people of all sides of the debate.
“Before the vote he said that his government didn’t have a ‘monopoly on good ideas’, and he now needs to honour his promise to make the most of the abilities of all.”
