Liberal Democrats claim botched Brexit deal threatens Welsh jobs
The Welsh Liberal Democrat have called on the the UK Government to “get a grip” and accused them of “failing to address the problems they have caused” with new post-Brexit customs regulations.
Following reports that Holyhead and Fishguard ports saw a 30 per cent drop in traffic in 2021, the Welsh Lib Dems leader Jane Dodds said the Conservative government at Westminster was “doing half a job” with the UK’s Brexit deal and stated that failures in the agreement are continuing to risk Welsh jobs.
At the start of January, new customs regulations came into effect requiring greater checks on goods coming into the UK, with the industry warning that even stricter checks due to come in over summer 2022 could prove even more disruptive.
The extra red-tape has led to numerous hauliers deciding to bypass the UK and Wales all-together, with direct ferry routes between France and Ireland increasing from less than 12 in 2020, to 44 as of October 2021.
Ian Davies, the boss of Stena’s UK ports, which operates the two Welsh ports has stated he thinks it is now clear the impact on Welsh ports is down to the new post-Brexit trading relationship with the European Union rather than the pandemic.
Welsh ports are thought to supply at least 1,000 jobs in Holyhead, Ynys Môn and support around 4,000 in Pembrokeshire.
‘Half a job’
Commenting on the developments, Jane Dodds, Senedd member for Midand West Wales said: “Yet again we are seeing more evidence that the Conservatives are the party of doing half a job.
“There are now numerous serious problems with the Brexit deal Boris Johnson negotiated, most of which they were warned about before they signed the deal.
“Whether it’s the unacceptable levels of new red tape for our hauliers and small businesses, the lack of an adequate veterinary agreement for our farmers or the impact of lost development funds on our most deprived regions, the Conservatives are failing to even attempt to address the problems they have caused on multiple fronts.
“We urgently need the Conservatives to get a grip, take some responsibility and clean up the mess they have made. People’s jobs and livelihoods are depending on it, as is the wider Welsh economy which does not need any unnecessary turmoil as we try to move into the post-pandemic era.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Yes Jane, we know. Good Greif, what has she been doing? Where has she been?
Well, in all fairness she and her party have been banging on about the stupidity of Brexit for years.
Thank god Wales did not vote for Brexit so we can hold Engerland to account.
Remind me what the majority for leave was again in Wales? And what it is now I wonder with Wales benefiting so much ! ?
52.5% voted leave. There has not been a second referendum so no one knows what it is now. But it was definately Englans fault. It always is
We all all know BJ lies and is full of BS. Brexit was ‘never’ going to benefit Wales. The only possible benefit for us,will be the eventual breakup of the UK.This will place the future in our own hands where we can get ourselves out of this mess.
Well at least the Tories have fixed the problems of queues of trucks outside Dover.
They turn the M20 cameras off. North Korea or what?
O diar, a oes etholiadau ar y gweill?
Excuse me Jane Dodds. The Liberals were in coalition with the Tory party when Brexit vote was conceived and realised. Your Liberal party were pivotal to Brexit the referenda because you aided & abetted David Cameron’s agenda of giving red meat to the right-wing Anti-EU ERG and to halt rise of UKIP who threatened Tory blue wall constituencies. The Liberals between 2010 & 2015 could have pulled their support resulting in the government falling and a new General Election, but they didn’t. Your party were at the heart of decision making and are culpable for not only Brexit, but our… Read more »
Everyone knew that Wales would be clobbered if Brexit was enacted, but a lot of people are far more interested in blue passports, straight bananas and flying the Union flag from buildings than they are in jobs, trade, food supplies and energy shortages. But at least house prices are rising dramatically, so that means we’ll have a lot more “posh villages” across our nation. Yippee!