Welsh Conservative Spokesperson for Europe, Mark Isherwood AM, has expressed respect for this week’s Supreme Court decision on Article 50, but criticised the Welsh Government for spending large sums of public money rather than accepting the verdict of the people and working positively to secure the best interest of Wales.
Responding in the Chamber to this week’s Statement by the Counsel General on the Supreme Court Ruling on Article 50, Mr Isherwood said:
“Although the people entrust sovereignty, being the authority of the state to govern itself without interference from outside sources or bodies, to a Prime Minister and Government, and although the Prime Minister confirmed last week that the UK Government will put the final deal agreed between the UK and the EU to a vote in both Houses of Parliament before it comes into force, we respect the Supreme Court’s decision that an Act of Parliament is required before article 50 is triggered, and we note that the UK Government has said it will set out its next steps to the UK Parliament shortly.
“But, of course, we also note the unanimous decision by the Supreme Court that the UK Government is not legally compelled to consult the Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly or Scottish Parliament before triggering article 50. But, of course, the British people, including the Welsh people, voted to leave the EU, and the UK Government will deliver on that, triggering Article 50, as planned, by the end of March. And today’s ruling does nothing to change that.”
Mr. Isherwood also questioned the cost of the Welsh Government’s intervention in the UK Government appeal against an earlier High Court ruling.
He said:
“I said to you in November—after you announced your plans to seek representation at the Appeal into the High Court decision that Parliament must vote on the process taking the UK out of the European Union—that the matters you raised were outside article 50 negotiations with the EU on EU withdrawal, and are instead matters for negotiation with the UK Government and the other home nations on a bilateral and quadrilateral basis?
“The outcome seems to validate the concerns that were raised here in November, following your written statement, and then your oral statement, to the Assembly. The court seems to have upheld those concerns raised. We know that the public cost has been announced at something around £85,000, but we understand that there have been a number of visits to London, and, obviously, not only involving yourself and Welsh Government officials, but external legal advisers. So, could you provide the Assembly with a figure for the total cost of this failure to secure Supreme Court endorsement for your view that this Assembly should have a veto?”
Mr Isherwood added: “The Supreme Court made it clear that the consent of the National Assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland, and of the Scottish Parliament, is not necessary before Article 50 may be triggered, where this applies to matters that are reserved to the UK Government and Parliament, not the devolved institutions. Wales did not therefore need the Labour Welsh Government to jump on the bandwagon and spend large sums of public money, justifying this by reference to matters which fall outside Article 50 negotiations with the EU.
“The confident determination of the UK Government to grasp opportunities for the UK contrasts with the weak and divided island sought by Plaid Cymru, and this Labour Welsh Government’s prophecies of doom and gloom.”