‘Only a total rejection of Brexit lies can fix Westminster politics’, Plaid MP
“Only a total rejection of Brexit lies can fix broken Westminster politics,” Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP will today say in a keynote speech at the party’s annual conference.
At the Llandudno Plaid conference, she will warn the Labour party that they will face the “same irreconcilable contradictions” as the Tories if they fail to reject “Brexit lies”.
Ms Saville Roberts will describe the chaos of the past few weeks as “the climax of a six-year long Brexit psychodrama”. Lies relating to Brexit were “the root of Westminster chaos”, according to Ms Saville Roberts, which “created a vacuum of accountability.”
She will say that given that trade from the UK to the EU is 16% lower than if Brexit had not happened, and that the UK economy has shrunk thanks to a 5.2% fall in GDP, and a 13.7% fall in investment, “any rational and honest politician would look at Britain’s dire economic prospects and recognise that we need a change of policy”.
Keir Starmer’s Labour Party “cannot find a backbone to state that fact”, according to the Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP.
She will reiterate her party’s call for the UK to rejoin the single market and customs union, and in the long term, for Wales to “rejoin the European family of nations – as a free, independent Cymru”.
‘Make lying illegal’
To restore faith in politics, Ms Saville Roberts has tabled the Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill, which seeks to make lying in politics illegal.
The Bill is set to receive its second reading on 28 October.
Liz Saville Roberts MP will say: “What’s at the root of Westminster chaos? Lies. Brexit lies split the Tory party, who then forced communities and families to turn against each other.
“Truss’s lies about her dangerous libertarian tax plans crashed markets. Lies have created a vacuum of accountability in Westminster – and allowed talentless zealots to seize the reins of power without an inkling how to use them.
“Since that reckless referendum vote – the Tory party has decided that if you nail your Brexit Blue colours to the mast, you can get any job you like.
“That’s why I have a bill going through Parliament that would ban lying in politics. That oughtn’t be controversial. In healthcare, education, and business – sectors which clearly impact on the public interest – similar laws have already been established.”
‘Brexit psychodrama’
She will continue: “This week was the climax of a six-year long Brexit psychodrama.
“The Tory delusion pushed by reckless politicians that we can both slash trade with our nearest neighbours and grow the economy in 2016 has taken all credibility out of Westminster politics.
“Brexit has shrunk the UK economy by being a driving force behind a 5.2% fall in GDP, a 13.7% fall in investment and trade from the UK to the EU 16% lower than if Brexit had not happened.
“Any rational and honest politician would look at Britain’s dire economic prospects and recognise that we need a change of policy. Starmer and the Labour Party cannot find a backbone to state that fact.
“Brexit has broken the link between evidence and government policy. That original delusion from 2016 has now led to the downfall of four Prime Ministers.
“That delusion explains that bonkers ‘mini’ budget. Truss could name no reputable economist who supported her plans – but in our post-Brexit, post-truth public discourse – evidence is for swots. All you need in this brave new world is blind faith.
“By attaching themselves so fervently to the hard Brexit project – Labour too will face the same irreconcilable contradictions when they find themselves in office. They want to ‘make Brexit work’ – but are wholeheartedly committed to retaining massive trade barriers that stop Welsh businesses from trading freely with our nearest neighbours.
“Starmer has made it abundantly clear that a future Labour government would not countenance joining the single market or customs union. He’s committed to strengthening the horsepower of the economic crisis that’s hurtling towards us.
“Plaid Cymru believes in honest politics. Only a total rejection of the Brexit lies can fix broken Westminster politics. For the sake of our economy, we must re-join the single market and customs union.”
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LSR is not being very honest in her argument here. Everyone knows Plaid need the UK to go back into the EU because as it stands now the chances of Scotland and Wales becoming independent are non-existent whilst England remains outside the EU.
And to prove your point the evidence is? Please dont say Spain, as the Spanish have said they do not oppose it.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-spain-politics-scotland-idUKKCN1NP25P&ved=2ahUKEwi6tdqCnfT6AhWMbsAKHZfAAscQFnoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2pn9mB9oferRte3UwRyA8k
The EU has always had more pros than cons but to suggest there weren’t cons is misleading.
Brexit created many, many problems for the UK but there were issues beforehand which meant millions were disenfranchised and willing to vote for something extreme and led by (dumb) extremists.
The only possible Brexit was one where, at least in short-term, a close relationship was kept but instead we had dumb extremists trying to create massive separation.
I agree completely with Liz. The daily charade of Labour and Tory MPs trying to promote the best of brexit is farcical. It is time as Liz states for MPs in Westminster to come clean with the public and state the facts about the on-going impact of brexit. My neighbour has factories in Wales and Europe his business continues to be significantly damaged by brexit (as well as the Tory initiated crash of the pound). He’s told me of many small businesses he knows have ceased trading as a consequence of brexit. I’m amazed that the lemmings in Labour are… Read more »
It’s about time people woke up to the truth about the EU, it isn’t the panacea that a lot of people clearly think it is. The last thing any country thinking of independence should do, is join the eurozone and give up their own sovereign currency, and that’s just a start.
I would agree that there are many problems in the EU of which the management of the Euro by the european Central Bank is one of the most serious. For a long time it was under the control of Market Fundamentalists who were always worried about the ‘deficit’ and thus pushed auterity policies like Osbourne did in the UK. However, the single market, the unified standards across a whole range of things does make for a better economy and would be of benefit to Cymru. The advantage of a Cymru fiat currency is evident, but as a small state but… Read more »
When the UK was part of the EU it was not part of the Eurozone, it had it’s own currency, what is your point here?
Former Soviet states in the Baltic region are now full members of the EU and the Eurozone, and all have prospered. Is it that bad for them, they all seem happy.
I think in terms of the Euro one needs to read a little bit about Modern Monetary Theory and ‘fiat’ currencies. Please accept apologies if you are all ready familiar with this stuff. Basically the Market Fundamentalist is obsessed with the ‘deficit’ which is the excess of money issued over money withdrawn via taxation. They pretend, or perhaps even believe, that money is created by the wealthy and Government is funded by taking that wealth as taxes. Thus the more the Government wishes to spend the more it will have to take as taxes. This is, of course, nonsense. The… Read more »
Another one of the other Liz’s Twelve Commandments…great idea for a calendar, Plaid