THE HERALD FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3 2017
29 Politics
Plaid Cymru bid to stop Article 50 Bill PLAID CYMRU MPs have
tabled an amendment to the Article 50 Bill which would stop Brexit in its tracks. The Plaid Cymru amendment,
which has the support of the Green Party, the SDLP and the SNP, aims to stop the Bill from proceeding, forcing the UK Government to introduce a new Bill. The UK Government published
the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill on Thursday, January 26, and consists of just two clauses. The Plaid Cymru amendment cites
a failure to ensure 'continued full and unfettered access to the European Single Market' and a refusal to require the devolved Parliaments to endorse the triggering of Article 50, as its reasons for stopping the Bill. The party has also submitted
Hywel Williams: Senior Brexit figures 'played on people’s emotions to deceive them into voting to leave'
amendments on numerous campaign promises made by the Vote Leave campaign, including promises on maintaining free trade with the Single Market, a cut in fuel duty, and the infamous promise to spend £350
million extra per week on the NHS. The party’s Parliamentary leader,
Hywel Williams, has said that if the UK Government commits to implementing the Leave campaign’s pledges, Plaid Cymru will withdraw their amendment and support the Bill. Commenting, Hywel Williams
said: “Senior figures who campaigned for Brexit during the referendum played on people’s emotions to deceive them into voting to leave. “The people were told by Boris
Johnson that we would still have free trade with the Single Market; they were told by Michael Gove that VAT on fuel would be cut and the Vote Leave campaign made sure everybody thought the NHS would receive a £350 million a week boost to its budget. The reality is that the British State’s trade links are being torn to shreds and the NHS is at risk of being privatised. “The promise of continued free
trade with Europe was clear, and to renege on it will have very serious consequences for the people of Wales – 200,000 of whom have jobs that
depend on our trade with Europe. “The UK Government has ignored
this promise and instead is insistent on dragging the whole of the British State out of the biggest market on earth with devastating consequences for ordinary people’s jobs and wages. “Despite Wales’ economic needs
being clearly very different to the needs of central London, for example, Westminster has refused to allow Wales to have its say through a vote in the National Assembly. “This is not about ignoring the
result of the referendum or about re- running it. If the UK Government commits to honouring the promises the Leave campaign made then we will withdraw our amendment and we will back the Bill. “It is imperative that Wales isn’t
stripped of its access to the biggest trading market on earth and I urge the Labour Party to join Plaid Cymru in protecting Wales’ interests and blocking Article 50 until we get this crucial assurance.”
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