27.06.16
Welsh cabinet to meet to discuss implications of EU referendum
The Welsh government cabinet will meet this morning to discuss the implications of the UK’s vote to leave the EU for the country.
The UK voted 52% in favour of leaving in Thursday’s referendum. This pattern was reflected in Wales, with 52.5% of voters supporting leaving against 47.5% wanting to stay.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the turnout was in favour of remaining. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already announced that the Scottish government is preparing the legislation to seek another independence referendum to avoid leaving the EU against its will.
Carwyn Jones, Welsh first minister and Labour leader in Wales, who campaigned for the UK to remain, said: “We will look at an initial evaluation of the potential consequences of this result for Wales, and agree how we will take the priorities forward in the national interest.
“On Friday, I set out my priorities for action, including even closer working with Welsh business to protect jobs, renewed intergovernmental engagement and a commitment to protect and maintain EU funding for Wales for as long as possible.
“The full implications of this vote are still far from clear and will not be so for some time. However, one thing is certain. We as the Welsh government are utterly determined to stay internationally engaged, outward-looking and pro-business in our approach. That is what will maintain business confidence, and that is what will help inward investors take the right decisions in this new, uncertain environment.”
He added that the Welsh government would continue working with Tata Steel, whose sale of its UK steel operations had a significant impact on the industry, to meet the “immense challenges” the result could cause.
Alexandra Jones, CEO of Centre for Cities, has warned that the UK devolution process could “come to a standstill” following the referendum result, with devolved bodies losing out on EU funding and power transferring from Brussels to Westminster.
(Image: Welsh Assembly, c. Ben Birchall from PA Wire)
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