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Brexit: £30m needed for economic shock, says Leanne Wood Plaid felt powerless at general election, says Rhun ap Iorwerth
(about 2 hours later)
A total of £30m should be spent protecting firms from possible damage from Brexit over the next two years, Plaid Cymru's leader has said. Plaid Cymru felt "under siege" and "powerless" during a "challenging" general election campaign, Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.
Leanne Wood, who will address Plaid's annual conference in Caernarfon later, said the Brexit Preparedness Fund could help "mitigate any Brexit shock". The AM for Ynys Mon said Wales needed a "newly confident Plaid Cymru" in a speech to the party's conference in Caernarfon.
His comments came after party leader Leanne Wood said Plaid's election performance was "remarkable".
Plaid won an extra seat - in Ceredigion - in June but saw its vote share fall.
The party's spokesman on health said: "The snap election this year was challenging. It was difficult seeing Wales following British, or to be more specific English, voting patterns.
"Two party politics dominating, a feeling we were under siege, powerless sometimes," said Mr ap Iorwerth.
"But remember in the middle of that, a young man from Lampeter was elected, the youngest Plaid Cymru MP ever and the party again reaching it's highest ever level or MPs.
He added: "A newly confident Wales needs a newly confident Plaid Cymru."
Meanwhile, Ms Wood said a total of £30m should be spent protecting firms from possible damage from Brexit over the next two years.
The party leader, who will address Plaid's annual conference in Caernarfon later, said the Brexit Preparedness Fund could help "mitigate any Brexit shock".
Mainly small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) should get specialised help and financial assistance, she said.Mainly small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) should get specialised help and financial assistance, she said.
Plaid have already agreed a £5m scheme in a budget deal with Labour ministers.Plaid have already agreed a £5m scheme in a budget deal with Labour ministers.
Ms Wood warned that if UK-EU trade talks failed, and Welsh ministers had "no plan" to deal with the consequences, "Welsh nationhood" was at risk.Ms Wood warned that if UK-EU trade talks failed, and Welsh ministers had "no plan" to deal with the consequences, "Welsh nationhood" was at risk.
A "range of measures" were needed to help protect Welsh businesses from any negative impact from leaving the European Union, she said.
"One such measure is a Brexit Preparedness Fund designed to help businesses evaluate their exposure to Brexit and then receive specialist advice and financial assistance," she said."One such measure is a Brexit Preparedness Fund designed to help businesses evaluate their exposure to Brexit and then receive specialist advice and financial assistance," she said.
"Such a fund should be targeted mainly at SMEs and should be approached proactively and engaged with on an all-Wales basis." Brexit 'should be ratified'
Ms Wood said Plaid Cymru would suggest "constructive proposals the Welsh Government should adopt to protect our economy and constitution" as well as applying "relentless scrutiny of the UK government's actions and their impact on Wales".
In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Ms Wood said the final outcome of the negotiations should be ratified by either a referendum or a vote of AMs.In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Ms Wood said the final outcome of the negotiations should be ratified by either a referendum or a vote of AMs.
She told the Good Morning Wales programme: "Whatever deal is finally agreed, whether it is a deal or it isn't a deal, I think it should be ratified either by people in a referendum or by people's representatives in the Welsh Parliament.She told the Good Morning Wales programme: "Whatever deal is finally agreed, whether it is a deal or it isn't a deal, I think it should be ratified either by people in a referendum or by people's representatives in the Welsh Parliament.
"If there is a deal that is going to be damaging and risky then people deserve to have a say and endorse or not that deal.""If there is a deal that is going to be damaging and risky then people deserve to have a say and endorse or not that deal."
The Rhondda AM has insisted she will lead the party at the next assembly election in 2021 and that she has the backing of the membership.The Rhondda AM has insisted she will lead the party at the next assembly election in 2021 and that she has the backing of the membership.
It follows reports of disquiet among some Plaid Cymru AMs over whether she should lead the party for another four years. She said she was "quite pleased with the result" of the general election, which saw the party's number of MPs rise from three to four.
Her comments follows reports of disquiet among some Plaid Cymru AMs over whether she should lead the party for another four years.
Plaid lost 14 deposits and its vote share fell in June's general election, but it won an extra parliamentary seat meaning it now has four MPs at Westminster.Plaid lost 14 deposits and its vote share fell in June's general election, but it won an extra parliamentary seat meaning it now has four MPs at Westminster.