Carmarthenshire MP Jonathan Edwards used a debate in the House of Commons to demand assurances that the British Government wouldn’t use its new powers over Wales to undermine Welsh environmental targets.

The post Brexit Internal Market Act allows the British Government to by-pass the Welsh Senedd as it sees fit. Capital projects which damage the Welsh environment and undermine Welsh climate change targets could be implemented without the support of the Welsh Government or the Senedd.

Mr Edwards tabled an amendment to the Environment Bill which would give the Welsh Government the ability to stop any project forced on Wales by the UK Government if it undermined Welsh environmental policy.

Mr Edwards said: “The powers given to the UK Government over Wales under the Internal Market Act are quite frankly frightening. The Welsh Government and the Senedd will not be able to intervene against Westminster intrusion when it comes to capital infrastructure spending. This fundamentally undermines Welsh economic strategy but also other policy fields such as environmental goals.

“Sustainability using our abundant natural resources must be at the forefront of our economic recovery in Wales. Our priority should be leading the economic transformational change that is required to transition to the future low carbon economy. These plans could be laid to waste by a UK Government pursuing a completely different agenda.

“Westminster has a terrible record in supporting investment in Wales. No support for the tidal lagoon in Swansea, a pathetic record on rail investment in our country, and an iron grip over energy policy and economic leavers.

“How can future Welsh Governments be held to account for leading our country forward to meet the economic and climate challenges of the future if Westminster will be able to do whatever it likes to undermine Welsh policy at will?”