Agenda and minutes

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Expected timing: 225(v2) 

Media

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Transcript: Transcript for 05/09/2019 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(120 mins)

1.

Debate - Brexit and Prorogation of the UK Parliament

NDM7128

 

Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Shares the view of the Speaker of the House of the Commons that it is a ‘constitutional outrage’ for the Prime Minister to advise the Queen to prorogue Parliament for more than five weeks at a time of national crisis.

 

2. Reiterates its view that a no deal Brexit would cause significant short term disruption and deep long-term damage to Wales, and that therefore the United Kingdom should in no circumstances leave the EU on a no deal basis; and believes that the neither the 2016 referendum nor the 2017 General Election provide a mandate for this course of action.

 

3. Calls on Members of Parliament to use any legal and constitutional means available to prevent the UK Government from pursuing a no deal outcome to the Brexit negotiations and to ensure that the decision on whether or not to leave the EU in the light of current circumstances should go back to the electorate in a referendum.

 

The following amendments have been tabled:

 

Amendment 1 – Caroline Jones

Delete all and replace with:

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Considers that legislatures are best presided over by a member who is politically neutral and refrains from taking controversial or partisan stances which may undermine the impartiality of their office.

 

2. Supports a clean break Brexit in light of the refusal of many MPs to accept the result of the 2016 referendum and the intransigence of the European Union in its negotiating position.

 

3. Calls on the UK Government to use all necessary and appropriate means to implement the result of the 2016 referendum, in which both the UK and Wales voted to leave the European Union.

 

Amendment 2 – Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

If faced with the prospect of a no deal Brexit for which there is no mandate, calls for Article 50 to be revoked.

 

 

Amendment 3 – Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

If the electorate is offered a general election instead of a referendum to resolve the Brexit crisis, calls on pro-remain parties to campaign on a policy of revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU.

 

 

Amendment 4 – Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Prepares for the possible eventuality of a no deal outcome by calling on the Welsh Government to establish a Welsh National Constitutional Convention, including a Citizens' Assembly; looking at all options for Wales's constitutional future, including independence, and to begin preparations for a referendum whereby the people of Wales decide their constitutional future.

 

 

Amendment 5 – Neil McEvoy

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Recognises that a no deal Brexit outcome, and the right wing nationalist agenda being pursued by the UK Government in London, could very soon lead to the full political separation of the nations currently making up the UK state, and, to prepare for this eventuality, resolves to:

 

a) engage with elected politicians at all levels in Wales to establish a constitutional convention, urgently tasked with mapping out what a future sovereign Wales would look like, setting out its future relationships with the constituent parts of the former United Kingdom;

 

b) create people's assemblies made up of interested members of the public in Wales, including the Youth Parliament of Wales, to contribute to the work of this constitutional convention;

 

c) engage the best legal minds in Wales and beyond to write a draft constitution for a future sovereign Wales, to be discussed, amended and ultimately adopted by the constitutional convention;

 

d) engage the best economists from Wales and beyond, committed to the economically and environmentally sustainable future of a sovereign Wales, to produce realistic pathways to achieve this;

 

e) constitute a committee of this Assembly comprised of interested AMs regardless of party affiliation, to define the remit and appoint a chair and vice-chairs for the constitutional convention and oversee its effectiveness and progress;

 

f) task the Welsh Government with providing the necessary resource to fully enable the above.

 

 

Amendment 6 - Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

 

Calls on the Welsh Government to make available full details of the Yellowhammer documents relating to a no deal scenario that it has been provided with.

 

Minutes:

The item started at 13.00

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM7128

 

Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Shares the view of the Speaker of the House of the Commons that it is a ‘constitutional outrage’ for the Prime Minister to advise the Queen to prorogue Parliament for more than five weeks at a time of national crisis.

 

2. Reiterates its view that a no deal Brexit would cause significant short term disruption and deep long-term damage to Wales, and that therefore the United Kingdom should in no circumstances leave the EU on a no deal basis; and believes that the neither the 2016 referendum nor the 2017 General Election provide a mandate for this course of action.

 

3. Calls on Members of Parliament to use any legal and constitutional means available to prevent the UK Government from pursuing a no deal outcome to the Brexit negotiations and to ensure that the decision on whether or not to leave the EU in the light of current circumstances should go back to the electorate in a referendum.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 – Caroline Jones

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers that legislatures are best presided over by a member who is politically neutral and refrains from taking controversial or partisan stances which may undermine the impartiality of their office. 

2. Supports a clean break Brexit in light of the refusal of many MPs to accept the result of the 2016 referendum and the intransigence of the European Union in its negotiating position. 

3. Calls on the UK Government to use all necessary and appropriate means to implement the result of the 2016 referendum, in which both the UK and Wales voted to leave the European Union.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

4

0

38

42

 

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 – Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

If faced with the prospect of a no deal Brexit for which there is no mandate, calls for Article 50 to be revoked.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

9

0

35

44

 

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

Amendment 3 – Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

If the electorate is offered a general election instead of a referendum to resolve the Brexit crisis, calls on pro-remain parties to campaign on a policy of revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

9

0

35

44

 

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 – Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

Prepares for the possible eventuality of a no deal outcome by calling on the Welsh Government to establish a Welsh National Constitutional Convention, including a Citizens' Assembly; looking at all options for Wales's constitutional future, including independence, and to begin preparations for a referendum whereby the people of Wales decide their constitutional future.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

9

0

35

44

 

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 – Neil McEvoy

Add as new point at end of motion:

Recognises that a no deal Brexit outcome, and the right wing nationalist agenda being pursued by the UK Government in London, could very soon lead to the full political separation of the nations currently making up the UK state, and, to prepare for this eventuality, resolves to:

a) engage with elected politicians at all levels in Wales to establish a constitutional convention, urgently tasked with mapping out what a future sovereign Wales would look like, setting out its future relationships with the constituent parts of the former United Kingdom;

b) create people's assemblies made up of interested members of the public in Wales, including the Youth Parliament of Wales, to contribute to the work of this constitutional convention;

c) engage the best legal minds in Wales and beyond to write a draft constitution for a future sovereign Wales, to be discussed, amended and ultimately adopted by the constitutional convention;

d) engage the best economists from Wales and beyond, committed to the economically and environmentally sustainable future of a sovereign Wales, to produce realistic pathways to achieve this;

e) constitute a committee of this Assembly comprised of interested AMs regardless of party affiliation, to define the remit and appoint a chair and vice-chairs for the constitutional convention and oversee its effectiveness and progress;

f) task the Welsh Government with providing the necessary resource to fully enable the above.

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

1

8

35

44

 

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Rhun ap Iorwerth

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to make available full details of the Yellowhammer documents relating to a no deal scenario that it has been provided with.

A vote was taken on amendment 6:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

9

0

35

44

 

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion:

NDM7128

 

Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

 

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

 

1. Shares the view of the Speaker of the House of the Commons that it is a ‘constitutional outrage’ for the Prime Minister to advise the Queen to prorogue Parliament for more than five weeks at a time of national crisis.

 

2. Reiterates its view that a no deal Brexit would cause significant short term disruption and deep long-term damage to Wales, and that therefore the United Kingdom should in no circumstances leave the EU on a no deal basis; and believes that the neither the 2016 referendum nor the 2017 General Election provide a mandate for this course of action.

 

3. Calls on Members of Parliament to use any legal and constitutional means available to prevent the UK Government from pursuing a no deal outcome to the Brexit negotiations and to ensure that the decision on whether or not to leave the EU in the light of current circumstances should go back to the electorate in a referendum.

For

Abstain

Against

Total

32

0

12

44

 

The motion was agreed.

2.

Voting Time

Votes Summary

Supporting documents: