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Nation•Cymru A news service by the people of Wales, for the people of Wales.

Opinion

Brexit must be challenged in the Senedd Election

By Mark Mansfield
Picture by Tiocfaidh (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Joe McDonald

It’s been six years since we’ve had Brexit. 2026 is undoubtedly going to be a significant year for politics in Britain, and most notably for the devolved powers, when the Welsh Parliament, now called the ‘Senedd’ since 2020, will be holding elections.

The centre-Left Labour Party have dominated the Senedd since the original creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999, but if the polls turn out to be an accurate depiction of how people feel on election day, then this year is going to be an unprecedented moment for who holds power in the next devolved government.

Regardless of the upcoming result, I believe that every competing political party and their candidates should be questioned on how they would address the impact of Brexit on local communities in Wales, and the nation’s economy at large.

Many sectors, from farming, hospitality and the NHS, to transport, education and the creative industries, have all been affected by red tape and higher costs for those wishing to trade, travel, work or study in Europe.

As a result of these barriers and a deprecation of the Pound, numerous analyses have confirmed that Brexit has led to an increase in food prices for the average household, meaning that near enough everyone is worse off from Brexit.

What’s more, it’s been estimated that the UK has fewer job vacancies, due to many businesses finding it increasingly difficult to operate and trade in post-Brexit Britain.

Since we’ve left the European Union, Wales and the UK have also been falling behind in health and environmental protections, with divergences in air, climate, water, pesticide and chemical regulations.

People have caught on to the reality of Brexit, and recent surveys have indicated that most people in the UK now believe that Brexit has been a mistake, and that it was wrong for Britain to have left the European Union.

As such, the truth couldn’t be clearer for Senedd election candidates, and especially those who campaigned for or against Brexit nearly 10 years ago.

Build bridges

We should be working to build bridges with the European Union to reduce the harm it has caused for communities and local industries across Wales.

Westminster’s ‘Shared Prosperity’ and ‘Levelling Up’ replacements for Wales amounted to much less than what was granted by the European Union’s Structural Funds, and whichever political party sits in power at the Senedd will have to navigate this friction with the UK government’s funding replacement.

Undoing Brexit is more than just about improving the economy and protecting our health.

As the United States goes rogue, and as we face threats by autocratic powers in other parts of the world, all political candidates in Wales should be emphasising the importance of promoting peace, and peace is more achievable if Wales and the UK unite with Europe.

Joe McDonald is a Campaigns Coordinator with Wales for Europe. 

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52 comments

Gareth Roberts

Well said!

Reply
Marvin

None of them bothered by the tax rises needed to replace the £250m per day in lost tax revenues caused by Brexit?

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Alwyn

Avid remainer. But it's definitely time to move on. Especially as reform are likely to form the next government in Westminster, possibly even Senedd. It's completely moot discussion anyway as EU has shown no inkling to begin talks on UK return. I can't see us rejoining for 20 plus years. Also zilch to do with Senedd.

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Undecided

Agreed. Brexit has been a disaster; but the majority voted for it. It’s called democracy and must be respected. You are also correct that it’s nothing to do with the Senedd beyond another pot of money to spend (not very effectively in this case).

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Adt

‘Democracy’ was respected and we left the EU. But democracy doesn’t mean that if something turns out to be a crock, as Brexit has, you can’t change your mind or reverse it.

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In reply to Adt

Undecided

Agreed - with another referendum. But the chances of one are zero at the minute. However no one voted to leave the single market.?

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Marvin

The UK voted overwhelmingly for Keir Starmer as PM in 2024. Perhaps that decision should be final too.

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In reply to Marvin

Paul Ambrose

"overwhelmingly" LMFAO

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In reply to Paul Ambrose

Marvin

Fourth biggest single party majority ever in Westminster.

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In reply to Marvin

Undecided

Not so. Starmer won two thirds of the seats with one third of the votes, thanks to FPTP. The lowest government share since WW2. Hardly overwhelming

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In reply to Undecided

Marvin

The number of votes is irrelevant in Westminster, only the number of seats counts. You might not like it but when asked in 2011 almost 70% gave FPTP two big thumbs up.

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Only Considerable Upsides

The referendum result has indeed been respected and we've left. However, as others have already pointed out, this doesn't prevent us from rejoining in the future should the electorate wish, and neither does it prevent a Westminster government negotiating access to the EU's Single Market or establishing a customs union with the bloc. Wales has been especially affected by the decision to leave, so the Senedd has every right to debate it and to lobby the UK government accordingly. Similarly, if we gain an independence-seeking government, Wales' relationship with the EU will certainly become a priority.

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In reply to Only Considerable Upsides

Undecided

I agree and am not arguing otherwise. Simply pointing out that the Senedd’s influence here is limited to non existent and the electorate is not going to have another vote on Brexit any time soon -,nor on independence now you come to mention it. Plaid has made that very clear.

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Rob

Yes but what type of Brexit was on the Ballot paper, There was nothing about leaving the Single Market.

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Alwyn

That's an academic point, I'm afraid. It's happened now and now much UK can do to reverse it.

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In reply to Alwyn

Marvin

It matters if it means it isn't the Brexit people were voting for. To be sure, the right thing to do would be to ask voters what kind of Brexit they wanted. Unless you're afraid of democracy.

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In reply to Marvin

Alwyn

Given the level of Brexit debate on both sides, there should never be another referendum. Vote for sensible politicians who understand complex issues and let them decide for us. I have zero trust for the UK population. Plus it's not us to decide, it's partly us, but mostly the EUs decision and they don't want us

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Che Guevara's Fist

During the debates in the run up to the referendum, both sides explicitly said that leaving the EU meant leaving the customs union and single market. Brexiters knew exactly what they were voting for.

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In reply to Che Guevara's Fist

Nick

People could promise what they liked but those without power had no way of delivering it and those with power had no constitutional ability to bind their successors. All that matters democratically was what was on the ballot paper. The argument that leaving the political union meant ending an economic partnership that predated the formation of the EU and had been backed by a supermajority in 1975 and included other non-members is as valid as saying the 2016 vote meant leaving UEFA, Eurovision and Euromillions.

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Alwyn

Nonsense. Over 100k jobs lost automotives, another 50k in finance. Could go on... Massively affected businesses. Perhaps the companies you're talking to are local services or companies that don't export?

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Amir

Only way to stop the boats is to reverse brexit.

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Maesglas

Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster but few politicians, especially Labour, will dare say so. The tragedy is that there was a small majority that voted for Brexit but that didn’t exclude membership of the customs union or single market. Many countries, including Canada, are benefiting from trade deals that we are excluded from. Starmer is terrified of doing this and is letting the country down out of cowardice. Brexit doesn’t say you can’t have membership outside the EU. A hard Brexit is destroying the economy and anyone with a happeth of sense would realise that doing deals with our geographical neighbours is better than the crazy occupant in the White House.

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Alwyn

Starmer is being a realist. We're not going to get anything better than what we have currently. It's simply not on offer. Or we'll have to pay through the roof to get it. The general consensus is customs union will cost upwards 10bn and year and include freedom of movement. But only after reform drop massively in the polls.

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Marvin

Maybe you can explain the wisdom in losing income to avoid spending money. If someone told you they were saving £10 but losing £90 would you congratulate them? Estimates are that were losing £90bn in tax revenue to avoid the £10bn you're warning about.

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In reply to Marvin

Alwyn

Quite the over simplification. Most of that 90bn is never coming back. Honda or ford aren’t reopening plants. Supply chains can’t be reborn at a whim. Damage is done and can’t be fixed even if we fully rejoin- which we won’t -as any one of about 25 countries are opposed and only takes 1 to oppose

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In reply to Alwyn

Marvin

Rejoining the economic partnership isn't the same as rejoining the EU. Look at the deal non-member Switzerland has. And there's no doubt frictionless trading with the richest single market in the world will turbocharge the economy which equates to higher tax revenues. It doesn't matter if the success stories of the future are different to those of the past.

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In reply to Marvin

Alwyn

The EU has consistently said they'll never replicate the Swiss deal again. It took years to negotiate and is still being negotiated. At the moment, nothing is on offer from the EU other than what we have. They have the deal they want

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In reply to Alwyn

Marvin

They're doing new deals all the time, such as very recently on energy, security and defence, Erasmus and digital borders. Starting to sound like a Swiss deal to me.

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In reply to Marvin

Alwyn

Of course there is cooperation. But that's not joining single market. I'm off to go argue with the clouds now...

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In reply to Alwyn

Rob

Given the current climate and dual threat the continent faces from both Putin and Trump Europeans cannot afford any more divisions. I'm pretty sure the EU would rather arrange a better deal with the UK, then have the. become a lap dog to a potential adversary.

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In reply to Rob

Alwyn

You would think so, but actions point this not to be the case. For example the EU military procurement SAFE effectively excluded UK.

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Adam

Another of Farages messes left for others to clean up.

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Paul Ambrose

Aw, mate. You must be gutted Wales voted to Leave.

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Marvin

Swung by blow-ins according to The Times of London. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/wealthy-english-blow-ins-swung-welsh-brexit-vote-r3qkpmnn3

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Tucker

Name me a brexit benefit.

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Marvin

The Conservatives will never again be seen as the party of fiscal responsibility.

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Rob

So did England, what's your point?

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Steve D.

The main unionist parties are too scared of revisiting Brexit or are still damn right hostile to the EU. Without a doubt Brexit has hurt Cymru and much needed investment has now virtually stopped. I drive along the A465 regularly - a vastly improved road, but it would not have been built without EU money. The UK government will never equal the money we were given and we are declining as a result. I have my doubts that any UK government will actively seek to rejoin. So it's up to us - as an independent country we could look at things differently and be braver.

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James Edwards

As if Blighty was ever going to make a success of it. The country is a third rate basket case which has only survived by stealing from others

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Marvin

With Starmer in charge.

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Marvin

Sounds like you want a presidential system.

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hdavies15

A bloke called Charles living in a big house in London and a few more houses up and down the UK might dissent. Presidential system is OK as long as incumbents don't get delusions of lifelong tenure!

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walesdad

Just to remind you, the people of Wales voted for that Brexit.

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Marvin

Swung by blow-ins, according to The Times of London. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/wealthy-english-blow-ins-swung-welsh-brexit-vote-r3qkpmnn3 Just to remind you.

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Undecided

Not in my view. Swung by smug and complacent mainstream politicians who ran the absolutely worst (Remain) campaign I can ever remember. They then seemed amazed when the majority of people did the exact opposite of what they wanted.

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In reply to Undecided

Marvin

Swung meaning "nudged over the line by" not "entirely responsible for". There was only 4% between the 48-52 result being exactly reversed 52-48. And it wasn't smugness that hampered the Remain camp. It was a lack of imagination that a large number of people might need to be convinced that jumping off a cliff might be a bad idea. And worse, a failure to appreciate that Call Me Dave advising them not to jump might encourage them to do it. That was unexpected.

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In reply to Marvin

Undecided

We can trade adjectives and descriptors indefinitely. I agree that Cameron was a major culprit; but he was not the only one by a long chalk - and there were plenty of others here in Wales plus the sainted Obama and several EU bigwigs as I recall. They simply didn’t think they could lose the referendum - but did. That’s my definition of complacency.

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In reply to Undecided

Marvin

If trusting people to act in their own best interests and the best interests of their community and future generations is complacency then I concede your point. Ultimately de Gaulle was proved right: L'Angleterre en effet est insulaire.

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John Ellis

Much as I deplored, and continue to deplore, the utterly crazy and self-defeating vote to leave the EU, the hard fact is that the UK did vote for exactly that, and a majority of Welsh voters backed it as well. And it's also a hard fact, serially demonstrated by current opinion polls, that Farage's faction appears still to be backed by a very large number of UK voters. And not a few of those appear to live in Wales. The movers and shakers within the EU will doubtless have noted that fact, and even if some quirk were to result in the election of a UK government which sought to attempt a repair of our relationship with Brussels, our erstwhile partners are surely going to be very cautious - to put it mildly! - in their response to any such an outreach from a British government. They'll recall the late Charles de Gaulle's warning, way back in the 1960s, that Brits have an inherent psychology which leads a majority of them to reject the notion of being communitaire, and they'll see the 2016 'leave' vote and the significant continuing support for Reform UK as an indication that, back then, de Gaulle judged us correctly. The hard reality is that even if we were to elect a government which tried, even in a limited way which initially is all that it could be, to restore our links with the EU, that government - quite understandably - would get a very cautious and qualified response from our sometime European partners. Sadly, that in reality is just how it is; Europe won't risk once again having a bunch of Farage's squalling and bawling goons kicking off in the European parliament. Why would they?

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Dugs

People couldn't see further than their eyes when voting for Brexit, they were blinded by the scares and lies of Boris and Farage and fell for them. Those same people who voted for Brexit whereby we can no longer return illegal immigrants to France must be happy with what they voted for.

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Agreed. Brexit has been a disaster; but the majority voted for it. It’s called democracy and must be respected. You are also correct that it’s nothing to do with the Senedd beyond another pot of money to spend (not very effectively in this...

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