It’s been almost 5 years to the day since we officially left the European Union, and discussions over whether it was the right thing to do have persisted almost continuously. Politicians still disagree on whether it was the correct decision, and particularly if Brexit was exactly what people were promised. We hear Senedd members weighing in.
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00:00There are some bright rays of sunshine breaking through, because this week marks the fifth
00:07anniversary of the UK's departure from the European Union. The Anglesey Freeport is now
00:12up and running, along with the Celtic Freeport. Around 17,000 high-quality new jobs will be
00:19created by those Freeports, and billions of pounds of inward investment. Do you acknowledge,
00:25First Minister, that Freeports and the new trade deals are clear benefits of us living
00:30in a sovereign United Kingdom, and that neither of these achievements would have been possible
00:36without Brexit?
00:37I can't believe that you are trying to pass off Brexit as something that has worked. I
00:45mean, honestly, part of the reason why we are so challenged is because of Brexit. And
00:53it is, I think, important to note that our opportunities and the opportunities for companies
00:57in Wales to export have been significantly dented as a result of those higher barriers
01:04that we now have to confront.
01:06Even a Remain-supporting holder of an Irish passport, such as the leader of the Conservatives,
01:13can't deny that £4 billion has been taken out of the Welsh economy. Poor trade deals
01:19negotiated in a hurry have undermined many businesses and sectors. That hits jobs, it
01:25hits wages, it hits the money in people's pockets. Now, Plaid Cymru says, let's get
01:30in the single market at least, let's get in the customs union, let's look after people's
01:34jobs here. Does the First Minister agree with me?
01:38What I know is that, as a result of us leaving the European Union, some of our public services,
01:47for example, are considerably more challenged than they would be otherwise. You think about
01:51the care service. 2,000 people left our care service as a result of Brexit.