Opinions still divided among North Wales politicians as Brexit deal agreement is announced

Opinions among political leaders remain divided in North Wales after it was announced today that a trade deal has been agreed between the UK and EU.

The majority of people in the region voted in favour of leaving the EU during 2016’s in/out referendum, with 198,946 votes cast for leave, compared to 174,929 to remain.

Gwynedd was the only county to vote to stay in the EU with 35,517 in favour of remaining, compared to 25,665 to leave.

After four years of uncertainty and two general elections dominated by Brexit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the deal during a live briefing from Downing Street earlier this afternoon.

He said: “I am very pleased that this afternoon that we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth £660 billion.

“A comprehensive Canada style free trade deal between the UK and the EU, a deal that will protect jobs across this country.

“A deal that will allow UK goods and components to be sold without tariffs and without quotas in the EU market.

“A deal which will if anything should allow our companies and our exporters to do even more business with our European friends.

“And yet which achieves something that the people of this country instinctively knew was doable. But which they were told was impossible.

“We have taken back control of laws and our destiny.”

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said: “It was worth fighting for this deal because we now have a fair and balanced agreement with the UK, which will protect our European interests, ensure fair competition, and provide much needed predictability for our fishing communities.

“Finally, we can leave Brexit behind us and look to the future. Europe is now moving on.”

The news has been welcomed by Aberconwy’s Conservative MP Robin Millar, who said: “This Conservative government has done what was set out in the EU referendum in 2016 and it was elected to do in 2019 – leave the EU with a trade deal.

“The deal is significant, covering over £668 billion of trade. It also heralds a new era for UK trade – and of course a new relationship with our long standing friends, neighbours and allies in Europe.

“As EU President Ursula von der Leyen said wisely in her statement “An end is a beginning.”

“Many have written asking for an extension to the transition period. There could be no question of that.

“There are 2000 pages of detail to work through and I will be looking closely at the Bill that comes to the House for a vote in Westminster, next week.”

He added: “I have every confidence that UK businesses, including those here in Wales and Aberconwy, have much to offer and can thrive in the years to come.

“I will continue to do all I can to help them hold their own and make their way in the world.”

 However, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyford Meirionydd Liz Saville Roberts suggested that Wales had been sold short by the deal.

She said: “While the details are still unknown, what is clear is that this agreement is worlds away from what was promised to Wales

“Wales was told that we would continue to have the exact same benefits, that we would not receive a penny less – but those promises have been broken.

“This deal will impose significant new costs and complex bureaucracy on Welsh businesses. It is expected to lead to a 5.5% reduction in Wales’s GDP.

“It will threaten the futures of our young people and remove many of our rights as citizens.

“Nevertheless, an agreement does give some stability after so many years of wrangling.

“No-deal would have been calamitous for Wales, so news that agreement has been secured will be a relief to many. It is now vital that both sides use this agreement as a basis upon which to build a deep and sustainable partnership.

“Even outside the EU, Wales is a proud European nation that will always cherish our relationships with our neighbours across the continent.”

The Welsh Government has meanwhile reiterated its long standing position that any deal would be better than no deal, whilst raising concerns about the impact on Welsh businesses and citizens.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Clearly, we need to receive a copy of the draft Treaty and analyse its terms before commenting in detail.

“But at every stage of the negotiations we have argued for a deal which would allow us to maintain the closest possible relationship with the EU. The evidence tells us this is the way to protect the economy and jobs.

“Faced with a binary choice between no deal and this – indeed any deal – we would prefer a deal.

“However it is appalling that it has taken until a week before we leave the transition period to give the first indication of the terms on which we will trade with our most important trading partner. This will only add to the enormous challenges facing our businesses.

“And while we don’t have any of the detail we know this deal is not the one we would have negotiated – after 31 December, Welsh businesses will still face major new barriers to trade; Welsh citizens will no longer be able to travel freely in Europe; and there will be little in it for service sector businesses.

“Even so, this deal is better than the catastrophe which would have been a no-deal. It means we have preserved our relationship with our nearest and most important trading partners. It provides a platform from which better arrangements can be negotiated in the future.

“The Welsh Government will continue to work with all partners, businesses, communities and people across Wales to prepare for and help navigate the end of the transition period and the new relationship with the EU.”

The UK left the EU at the end of January, but remains under its trading rules until the end of this month, and the deal needs further approval.

It will now be put to the European Council, bringing together the 27 governments of the bloc, and the European Parliament.

Parliament in Westminster will also be reconvened to debate it, along with the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff Bay.