First minister wants Wales to have closer ties with Europe

Eluned Morgan has openly described herself as a committed supporter of the European Union, expressing a strong desire for Wales to maintain the closest possible ties with the bloc. During an interview on BBC Politics Wales, she stopped short of calling for Labour to campaign on rejoining the EU but made it clear where she stands. “I am absolutely unapologetic that I always want the closest possible relationship,” she stated, emphasizing her enthusiasm for Europe.

Morgan highlighted the negative consequences that Brexit has had on Wales, pointing out that leaving the EU has not brought any benefits to the region. She cited reductions in exports, which directly impact jobs, as well as losses in funding that had been promised would not leave Wales any worse off financially. Given that 52.5% of Welsh voters supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum, and with Boris Johnson having secured strong support for the Conservatives in Wales by pledging to “Get Brexit Done” in 2019, these economic setbacks have been keenly felt.

Her comments come amid a shift in the Labour Party’s stance on Brexit, reflecting a willingness among senior figures to more openly discuss the consequences of the UK’s departure from the EU. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has recently acknowledged the challenges Brexit poses, particularly expressing doubt about the government’s ability to achieve promised economic growth outside the EU. Speaking at a literary festival, he remarked, “I’m glad that Brexit is a problem whose name we now dare speak,” signaling a new level of candor within the party.

Similarly, UK Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has spoken candidly about the economic harm Brexit has caused. In a podcast appearance, he described it as “self-evident” that the UK’s exit from the EU has damaged the economy, pointing to Turkey’s favorable economic gains through its customs agreement with the EU as a contrast. These voices highlight an increasing recognition within Labour that the UK’s relationship with the EU is a pivotal issue, particularly for Wales’s economic future

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