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‘No deal’ is not an option and the UK Government’s bluff is fooling no-one – First Minister Carwyn Jones

First published:
23 August 2018
Last updated:

This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government

Responding to the UK Government’s ‘no deal’ plans, First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said:

“The writing is on the wall. ‘No deal’ would be a catastrophic failure of the UK Government that would cause huge disruption and serious, long-lasting economic and social damage to all parts of the UK.

“It is hugely frustrating, because if the UK Government had adopted the blueprint to negotiations we set out over 18 months ago, they could have made substantial progress on the future partnership with the EU. They also could have avoided the situation we face today where our biggest employers are considering leaving the UK with the loss of thousands of jobs causing disruption to our economy, our universities are at risk of losing out on vital research and our hospitals are warning of staff shortages putting patients at risk.

“‘No deal’ is not an option and the UK Government’s bluff is fooling no-one. It is time the Prime Minister dropped the poker face and worked constructively with the EU-27 to secure a Brexit deal that protects our citizens, services and economy.”