In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of
the Constitution, Councillor Judith Humphreys will propose as follows:-
People’s Vote
The Council Notes that
·
That a substantial majority of the population
of Gwynedd voted to Remain in the EU.
·
In Gwynedd and in
Wales, jobs, wages and future prospects are at risk as a result of the UK’s
exit from the European Union
·
The potential of the UK not
reaching a deal with the European Union on the terms of its exit risks
immediate and irreparable economic and social damage, with regards to issues
including, but not limited to, the rights of European citizens in the UK and UK
citizens in the European Union, the supply of food and access to
medicines
·
Westminster is failing to protect
Welsh jobs, wages and future prospects by negotiating continued membership of
the European Single Market or Customs Union following any exit from the
European Union
·
Since the original vote to leave
the European Union there has been greater clarity on how our exit from the bloc
would affect the people of Wales
·
Proper democratic process requires
the people of Wales to have the opportunity to cast an informed vote regarding
our future relationship with the European Union following the negotiations on
the matter
The Council proposes that:
• A UK-wide referendum should be held on the UK’s
future relationship with the European Union following any deal
on the UK’s exit, or in the event of negotiations not leading to an agreement
on the terms of the UK’s exit from
the European Union
• The referendum
should include the option to stay in the European Union
Minutes:
(2) Submitted
- the following notice of motion by Councillor Judith Humphreys, in accordance
with Section 4.20 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:-
"The
Council notes that:
·
That
a substantial majority of the population of Gwynedd voted to remain in the EU.
·
In
Gwynedd and in Wales, jobs, wages and future prospects are at risk as a result
of the UK’s exit from the European Union
·
The
potential of the UK not reaching a deal with the European Union on the terms of
its exit risks immediate and irreparable economic and social damage, with
regards to issues including, but not limited to, the rights of European
citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the European Union, the supply of food
and access to medicines.
·
Westminster
is failing to protect Welsh jobs, wages and future prospects by negotiating
continued membership of the European Single Market or Customs Union following
any exit from the European Union.
·
Since
the original vote to leave the European Union there has been greater clarity on
how our exit from the bloc would affect the people of Wales.
·
Proper
democratic process requires the people of Wales to have the opportunity to cast
an informed vote regarding our future relationship with the European Union
following the negotiations on the matter.
The
Council Proposes that:
·
A UK-wide referendum should be held on the UK’s future
relationship with the European Union following any deal on the UK’s exit, or in
the event of negotiations not leading to an agreement on the terms of the UK’s
exit from the European Union.
·
The referendum should include the option to stay in the European
Union."
Members noted the following observations –
·
The
people's vote was held in 2016 and the decision was made to leave the European
Union. There was no point referring to unfounded
facts and figures. Brexit would happen
next year and it would eventually be successful. Everyone had to support this now. The decision had been made and there was no
turning back.
·
There
was no argument about the desire behind the proposal, but we had to beware of
what we wished for, as holding a second referendum would make the situation far
messier.
·
That
the people of Wales voted in the 1970s to be part of the European Union, they
never got to choose whether they wanted to be part of the British Union. Over recent years, society's right wing had
rejected the idea of being European, but if everyone backed this, it might have
worked.
·
Despite
voting to leave the European Union in 2016, that result was based on a fantasy
that was sold to people. It was said
that we would be able to enjoy all the benefits of being part of Europe without
any of the responsibilities that this entailed.
We were now facing the implications of this. There would be substantial restrictions on
our rights to trade. The 700 trading
agreements we had throughout Europe would disappear, or would have to be
renegotiated, and there was significant threat to most large employers in
Gwynedd that traded with Europe. We
would control the movement of the population from one country to another, but
it is we who would suffer most as a result of this.
·
It
was asked whether the Council would have a right to vote on this proposal as
there were people in Gwynedd who had voted in favour of leaving the European
Union. In response, the Monitoring
Officer explained that it was appropriate for the Council to have an opinion on
this proposal.
RESOLVED to adopt
the motion.