I’m glad, as I’m sure you are, that the EU referendum campaign is now over and a result has been delivered. As many readers will be aware, I campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU because I thought, on balance, that it was the best option for our economy. The people of Wales and the UK have spoken however, their instruction is clear and must be respected. Most importantly, we must look positively to the economic opportunities that Brexit presents as well as pragmatically at the challenges. I remain confident for Wales’ future prosperity as part of a fundamentally strong UK economy.
If there is any country that can make a long-term success of leaving the EU, it is the UK with our proud tradition as an outward looking trading nation. It is the responsibility of politicians and those in public life to focus on our future success, rather than wallowing in the result of the referendum. Most importantly, those who, like me, came down on the ‘remain’ side of the debate should avoid talking our country down or damaging investor confidence.
Although there has undoubtedly been gloom in parts of politics and the media, the business, university and council leaders I met in recent days have been refreshingly pragmatic. Indeed, I was struck by the impressive attitude of those I met in the Institute of Directors and the CBI who were already looking positively to the opportunities presented by Brexit as well as making plans for access to the European market under different trading models.
The business leaders were talking the language of optimism with phrases such as ‘re-birth of business’ being used. One exporter was keen to tell me that ‘entrepreneurs thrive on change’.
The university sector in Wales has strong links to Europe, but higher education leaders are already turning their minds to how our expertise and record of attracting students from the wider might work to strengthen their business models.
It is important to remember that we do have time to get our trading relationship right with Europe while at the same time looking to negotiate new deals with the rest of the world. We will not formally leave the EU until after process set in motion by the triggering of Article 50 has ended. This means that the EU affected parts of everyday life will not change for the time being – the benefits and drawbacks of EU membership will remain until we have technically left.
In this critical moment for our country, we must choose our new relationship with the EU in a cool and measured way but we must not hesitate in our optimism for Britain’s future or seek to re-open the question of membership. Negativity about the UK’s prospects helps no-one, and division in our society would be gravely and potentially irrevocably exacerbated if politicians choose to ignore the referendum result.
Now that the campaign is behind us it is our duty to accept the result unite in the interests of the nation, to look forward positively to the future. We must believe in ourselves and together, take this opportunity to forge a new path, making Wales and Britain even better as we take it.
The Vale MP Cairns is holding a public meeting, ‘Brexit: What’s next? A Q&A with Alun Cairns MP’, on Friday 8th July at 18:30 in the Duke of Wellington Pub in Cowbridge. It is an opportunity for local people to ask questions about the Government’s response to Brexit and to share views, ideas and concerns. All who live in the Vale of Glamorgan are welcome to attend.