Political reporter, Wales News
Senedd CymruWales’ first minister Eluned Morgan has been accused by her political rivals of lacking a voice in the UK government’s negotiations with the European Union.
On Monday the former Labour MEP welcomed the new deal struck between the UK and the EU, but said she would have liked “more discussion” with the UK government over fishing.
In the Welsh Parliament, the Welsh Conservative’s Darren Millar said Morgan did not “have a voice”, while Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth said Sir Keir Starmer was treating Wales with “contempt”.
Morgan said the agreement was a “good deal for Wales” and that many issues raised by the Welsh government had been addressed in it.
The agreement struck with the EU covers fishing, the ability of young people to move freely and defence, among other issues.
It will see the two sides work on a joint food safety agreement which, if implemented, would reduce paperwork and ease checks.
EU fishing vessels will also get 12 more years of access to UK waters.
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) said it was “very disappointed” with the deal.
On Monday Morgan, asked if the Welsh government had been consulted over the effect on fishing, said there had been talks but that she “would have liked more discussion”.
“We’ve had an idea of what’s been going on the whole time but the detail wasn’t finalised until the past few days,” she said.
Control of fishing is devolved to the Welsh government.
‘Betrayed’
In first minister’s question time in the Senedd, Welsh Tory Senedd leader Millar said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had “reopened the old Brexit battles that we have already fought and won and made some appalling announcements”.
“Let’s be clear about what this deal means: free movement back, payments to the EU back, EU rules back, our fishing industry here in Wales betrayed, an unacceptable mobility scheme.”
He said the deal “will decimate our Welsh fishing industry” and accused Morgan of selling “our fishing industry down the river”.
In response to Millar, Morgan said: “I’ll tell you what I do know is the Tories botched Brexit.
“What we will see now is much better opportunities for jobs in this country because people will be able to export to the EU for the first time without that red tape that occurred before.”
Millar later added that the UK government “did not consult with this Welsh Labour government in spite of the fact that many parts of this deal are going to have an impact here”.
Morgan argued that the Welsh shellfish industry, “which is actually much greater than our fisheries industry sector, are very happy”.
“From now on, they will be able to export their goods to the continent without them sitting and waiting and having to fill in forms at the borders”, she said.
‘Not bold enough’
In his series of questions, Rhun ap Iorwerth said he was “pleased that there is some acceptance now of the harm of Brexit”.
But he said the deal was “not bold enough in its response”.
“Yes, the Tories did botch Brexit,” he said, “but Labour also is botching its response to the Brexit damage.”
He said: “In yet another signal that Wales’ voice matters little to UK Labour, the first minister has admitted… she was again side-lined.”
Morgan said: “It’s really important for us to recognise that this is a good deal for Wales.”
She listed a number of issues, such as “bringing down export barriers”, defence and issues around steel and youth movement that were “all on our list of things that we wanted to see” which she said had been “worked through with relevant” UK government departments.
Describing herself as a “euro-enthusiast,” Morgan said she was “gutted” that the UK left the EU, but wanted “as close as possible a deal with the European Union in order for our country and our nation to thrive”.
Ap Iorwerth accused Morgan of wavering from her belief the Welsh government would benefit from membership of the single market and the custom union.
“We have a first minister who says she’s a euro-enthusiast, but that’s in words only,” he said.
