Friday 17 November 2017

Jeremy Corbyn has made the Cardiff Declaration meaningless.

I wonder if any of the representatives from more than 20 EU regions will make the call in a declaration in Cardiff on Thursday.ales must be able to participate in future European programmes if the UK government fails to reach a Brexit deal, politicians from across Europe have insisted asked the Welsh First Minister why his party at Westminster this week abstained on a proposal that could have given the Welsh Assembly power to veto key Brexit legislation which resulted in it overwhelmingly rejected by MPs.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said he was "not trying to undo Brexit".
But he stressed that shared interests with European counterparts "must be prioritised in the negotiations".


The meeting was attended by political representatives from countries including Germany, France and Ireland, and Scottish counterparts, as part of the Conference for Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR).

 The first minister joined  those representatives in signing the "Cardiff Declaration", which calls on the European Commission to "open the possibility for the UK devolved administrations to participate directly in future EU programmes and co-operation" in the event of a no-deal scenario


The declaration underlines a "strong interest" in seeing Wales continue to participate in successor programmes to Horizon 2020 (research and innovation), Erasmus+ (education and training), and Creative Europe (culture) after Brexit.
It also states that the CPMR "regrets but respects" the Brexit vote and highlights "the importance of reaching agreement on the financial obligations of the UK".


Mr Jones said:
 "Bringing together representatives from across the regions of Europe and signing the 'Cardiff Declaration' demonstrates our intention to collaborate with our European partners.
"Wales remains open, outward facing and international in outlook and Brexit will not change that.
"While we have been consistently clear that we are not trying to undo Brexit, we have a range of shared interests, from trade to protecting the rights of UK and EU citizens, which must be prioritised in the negotiations.
"This event and our joint declaration demonstrate that while Brexit has an impact on all European countries and regions, it must not become a stumbling block to our established strong relations that benefit us all."

Such a declaration would surely have been empowered if Plaid Cymru's Welsh Veto amendment had passed or even if it had not, Labour support and the majority of Welsh MPs backing it would result it some kudos given to the leader in Wales when he signed the so called Cardiff Declaration.

Indeed the true leader in Wales is the same as  that in London  one Jeremy Corbyn who supports Brexit and certainly  does not want Welsh and Scottish  devolved interests taken into account which  may whilst not stop it mitigate  some of the worst aspects .

Indeed it is  well worth noting that Jeremy Corbyn is as one  with
Conservative Monmouth MP David Davies said it was "starting to seem as though the Welsh Labour Party is batting for the other side on Brexit". and making sure that they obey thier masters in London.

Mr Davies said.
"The people of Bridgend [Mr Jones's constituency], like the people of Wales and the UK as a whole, voted to leave the European Union and the sooner the Welsh Government can adapt to that reality the better for Welsh businesses and families alike,"
OK but surely  that means that we have an input so that Brexit reflects the interest of the whole of the UK and not just the South East of England  as will be the inevitable  result of an Hard Brexit.

This week there was an opportunity for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland  to make a case for their interest taken into account.

 It may also have led to English MPs outside London and the South East to put forward their concerns.

But it was lost . Whether  Labour backing the amendment could have been won is a moot point, What was clear that for all the calls from the Welsh First Minister  for Wales to have a say his leader in London has made sure it will not happen.

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