Politics

Impact of Brexit on Wales discussed

Published

8 years ago

November 3, 2017

Progress being made: Carwyn Jones

PARLIAMENTARY questions last Thursday (Oct 26) were not easy for Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis.

Nailed to the spot about pronouncements he had made to a committee of MPs the previous day which had rapidly been contradicted by the Prime Minister, he managed to combine apparent certainty that there was no tension between his position and government policy (whatever that turns out to be) with an unwillingness to acknowledge that anyone could conceivably be concerned about Parliamentary sovereignty being bypassed by the refusal to give it a vote on Brexit’s terms.

For those who backed Brexit on the principle that parliamentary sovereignty and the ability of the House of Commons to make and scrutinise legislation was of paramount importance, it was uncomfortable listening.

Bluster and bloody-mindedness, it is rapidly turning out, are no substitute for the ability to master a brief, understand it, express it, and stick to it.

In fact, the position was rendered even worse by statements made by the Ministers of State in Mr Davis’ own department the previous day that they had not even bothered to read, let alone understand, briefing papers prepared for them by their own civil servants on the potential impact of leaving the EU. You might suppose that ignorance is bliss and, if it is, the Minister wished to share its blessings widely by refusing others the opportunity to examine that of which they remain willfully – and, no doubt ecstatically, ignorant.

After being offered sympathy by Labour’s shadow Brexit minister Sir Kier Starmer for the difficulties in which he found himself, Mr Davis was successively hit by a series of exasperated questions – some from his own colleagues – to which he offered increasingly snappy and impatient answers.

Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards, who has the misfortune of seeming to be more familiar with Mr Davis’ brief than Mr Davis does himself and doomed to try to educate pork as a result, attempted to get a straight answer on whether or not the UK Government would seek endorsements for the Brexit deal – if any – from devolved administrations.

Jonathan Edwards reminded MPs that national and regional Parliaments within EU member states will all be consulted on the final withdrawal deal and that six months have been allocated for that process.

Mr Edwards asked Brexit Secretary David Davis that ‘in order to ensure that the future relationship works for every part of the British state’ did he agree that ‘the formal endorsement of the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly should be sought before any final deal is reached—or is it going to be a case of “Westminster knows best”?’

In response, Mr Davis again failed to guarantee Wales a voice in the deal, stating ‘this is a treaty for the United Kingdom’.

Bearing in mind the continued absence of any commitment to discuss with ministers within the devolved administration on any substantive points, it seems that the UK Government is increasingly determined to go its own way and drag the other nations of the UK along behind it.

Speaking after Mr Davis’ shambolic and ill-tempered performance, Jonathan Edwards said: “As I and my Plaid Cymru colleagues have said before: the British Government is using the Brexit process as a means of re-centralising power in Westminster, rolling back the progress we have made towards self-government in order to reinstate Westminster-rule.

“In his answer to me this week the Brexit Secretary once again fails to guarantee our democratically elected representatives in the Welsh Parliament a formal role in influencing the deal with the European Union. This is particularly concerning when we consider the profound economic differences between Wales and England.

“The position of the British Government is even more insulting when we consider that devolved governments within the other EU member states will have an opportunity to influence and effectively veto the deal. The British government needs to say why it refuses to afford the same right to the devolved governments here.”

However, on Monday (Oct 30) the UK Government made an effort to – at least partly – assuage those concerns.

First Minister Carwyn Jones met with Theresa May in Downing Street in an attempt to at least break down the conflict between the Senedd and Westminster on how a way forward might be found in relation to what Mr Jones had previously described as ‘a constitutional crisis’.

Speaking to BBC Wales after the meeting, Mr Jones said: “Progress is now being made in making sure there is agreement as to the way forward, not imposition. But that progress needs to continue. We’re not in a position yet to support the bill.

“The bill needs to change so the warm words that we hear are reflected on the face of the bill, and that means making sure that powers meant to come to Wales do come to Wales.”

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “I’m optimistic that the Welsh government will be able to respond to the new powers that they’ll get, but also that we’ll have a common framework around the UK that will work for business and for stakeholders and for investors.”

A No 10 spokesperson said Mrs May and Mr Jones ‘spoke about constructive dialogue at the recent Joint Ministerial Committee and the progress made on working together to establish principles on common frameworks’.

News

First Minister praised for turning up in Hakin as political mood shifts

Published

54 minutes ago

April 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Referee Martin Jones says Eluned Morgan’s visit to a community that recently backed Reform UK showed leadership willing to listen rather than hide away

FIRST MINISTER Eluned Morgan has been praised for visiting Hakin over the bank holiday weekend, with local referee Martin Jones saying her appearance showed a willingness to engage with communities where the political tide may be turning.

In a social media post after attending the Pembrokeshire League title decider, Jones said it would have been easy for senior politicians to avoid areas where support had “clearly shifted”, but argued Morgan deserved credit for doing the opposite.

His remarks come after Hakin, part of Milford Haven, elected a Reform UK county councillor, Scott Thorley, in a result seen by some as a sign of changing political sentiment in the area.

Jones wrote that Morgan’s visit “stood out” because it showed “a willingness to engage, not retreat”.

He also praised the First Minister’s approach on the day, saying her attendance did not feel like a staged appearance.

According to Jones, Morgan stayed at the event, spoke with local people, listened to what they had to say, and took time to connect with both matchgoers and residents.

He was also complimentary about the presence of members of her team, including Marc Tierney, saying it was encouraging to see political figures engaging directly with the public rather than keeping their distance.

Jones said that, regardless of political allegiance, leadership should still be prepared to show up in person and hear what communities are thinking.

In his post, he described Morgan’s visit as “refreshingly real” and said it mattered to see politicians “turning up, listening, and being present” at a time when many political conversations can feel remote from everyday life.

The visit took place at a high-profile local football fixture over the Easter bank holiday weekend, drawing a sizeable crowd and giving the First Minister the chance to meet residents in an informal setting.

While political divisions remain sharp across Wales, Jones’s comments suggest that personal engagement on the ground can still cut through, even in places where parties face a more uncertain reception than they once did.

The First Minister was also spotted at St Davids Cathedral on Easter Sunday.

Photo caption:

First Minister Eluned Morgan speaks with local referee Martin Jones during her visit to Hakin over the bank holiday weekend (Pic: Martin Jones).

Community

Cosheston gypsy traveller 60 foot shed plans refused

Published

7 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for a 60-foot-long shed and stables at the proposed home of a gypsy traveller family near a Pembrokeshire village has been refused by planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Ryan Surname Boswell & Family, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought provision for an access road and replacement of temporary stables and storage containers with a multi-purpose shed and stables at Greenwells, Cosheston Bridge, Cosheston.

The application initially sought a 24.3 by 9.1 metre building, which has now been reduced to 18.3m by nine.

A supporting statement said that land to the north “is subject to a current planning application for the provision of two traveller family pitches with improvements to access and ecological enhancements with other land in our client’s ownership being un-affected”.

It added: “Mr Boswell and his family are of traveller origin and intend to make this site their family home. They own various domestic equipment, children / family articles, mowers / tools and farming equipment that require secure storage. The shed will also be used to house horses/ponies that are currently stabled in the temporary wooden stable block currently on skids on the land in question.”

It concluded: “The scale, design and use of materials (and colours) of the proposed shed is comparable to many new such sheds throughout Pembrokeshire. There will be no significant negative impacts on the level of amenity enjoyed by any neighbours or those travelling along the minor county road to Cosheston from any aspects of the proposed development.”

Local community council Cosheston had raised concerns including the “excessive” size of the proposed building, feeling “this is on the large side of what is required for a couple of ponies”.

It added: “Our concern is that the applicant intends to run his building/property maintenance business from the property. If the council grants the application, restrictions should made on the property’s use. i.e. restricted to agricultural use only.

“We have no objection to the construction of a small stable block, similar in size to the existing one on site.”

Objections were also received from two members of the public, raising concerns including the scale, environmental concerns, and a potential conflict with the ongoing application.

An officer report recommending refusal said the scheme was part-retrospective due to the prior formation of an access track within the field.

It added: “Despite amendments to the application as originally submitted by the reduction in building footprint and scale, the proposal remains a substantial and visually intrusive structure in the open countryside. An essential countryside need has not been justified nor evidence provided of an agricultural or equine enterprise warranting a building of this size or permanence.”

The application was refused on the grounds it “is not typical of a structure intended solely for the storage of paraphernalia associated with grazing land or for equine use and no information has been provided within the application to demonstrate the functional need for a building of this scale”.

It added: “The nature, siting and scale of the building would not be compatible with the capacity and rural character of the site, and together with the access track results in an unjustified and visually intrusive form of development in the open countryside, which does not represent sustainable development.”

Politics

Pembrokeshire National Trust car park schemes approved

Published

2 days ago

April 5, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for three solar-powered parking meters at National Trust south Pembrokeshire beauty spots have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the National Trust, through agent Mott Macdonald Ltd, sought permission for replacement solar-powered parking meters, along with associated infrastructure including an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera, at Broad Haven, Stackpole Quay, and Bosherston Lily Ponds carparks.

An officer recommending approval said it was intended to install a Solar Strada S5 Terminal parking meter at Broad Haven Carpark, an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera and Solar Strada S5 Terminal at Stackpole Quay carpark, and a Solar Strada S5 Terminal parking meter at Bosherston Lily Ponds.

It added: “As there was a previous level of visual intrusion caused by the existing infrastructure, the proposed parking fee terminals are considered unlikely to exacerbate the existing level of visual impact caused by the existing pay and display terminals.

“The proposed installation of the solar parking fee terminals at Broadhaven, Stackpole Quay and Bosherston Lily Pond carpark and the ANPR camera at Stackpole Quay carpark are considered to be well designed in terms of scale, siting, visual amenity and biodiversity.”

The application for the three units was conditionally approved by park planners.