Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford sets out Wales’ Brexit priorities

16 May 2018 11:30 AM

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford recently (Monday May 14) set out Wales’ priorities for the future as the UK prepares to leave the European Union.

Speaking at the latest in a series of events organised by Wales for Europe, he set out the Welsh Government’s 6 priorities. These 6 priorities respect the Brexit vote in 2016 but put Welsh interests at the forefront of a new relationship with the European Union:

Professor Drakeford said:

“When we started discussions with our Scottish and UK counterparts, the EU Withdrawal Bill would have allowed the UK government to take control of devolved policy areas, such as farming and fishing, after Brexit. 

“We are now in a different place. London has changed its position so that all devolved powers and policy areas rest in Cardiff, unless we all agree that some matters will continue to operate temporarily to the existing EU rule book. These will be areas where we all agree that, when the UK leaves the EU, UK-wide rules are needed for a functioning UK internal market.

“The Legislative Consent Motion defends and entrenches devolution while also providing the certainty necessary that the United Kingdom will operate effectively, the other side of the European Union and the shared rule book it has provided.”