Over eighty people packed the Morlan Centre in Aberystwyth on Wednesday 25th January for the launch of the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society / WISERD@Aberystwyth with a lively discussion on ‘Brexit and Wales – the Key Questions’.
Four presentations set the scene, drawing on research by members of the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society / WISERD@Aberystwyth. Dr Rhys Dafydd Jones presented figures on EU migration to Wales and posed questions that need to be answered about the future status of EU nationals in Wales, and the potential impacts of changes in immigration policy to the Welsh economy and society. Professor Michael Woods focused on rural Wales, outlining the EU contribution to farming incomes, trade and rural development, and highlighting the challenges that could arise from new trade agreements, as well as the critical question of how any ‘Brexit dividend’ is distributed to Wales in determining whether current EU funding contributions could be matched post-Brexit. Professor Elin Haf Gruffudd argued that the Welsh language had benefited from being part of multi-lingual Europe, and raised questions about the future of cultural ties and exchanges. Finally, Dr Elin Royles described the significance of EU support for Welsh cultural institutions and questioned how lost EU funding would be replaced.
Professor Michael Woods, Co-Director of the centre, said: “Our aim with the new centre is to develop our understanding of contemporary politics and Welsh society and to consider it in a global context. We are living in an age of significant political change and the centre’s activity will focus on key themes relevant to our day to day lives. The challenge of Brexit is a perfect example of this, and it was excellent to be able to discuss this issue with such a large and informed crowd at our launch.”
