Wales is paying a heavy price because of the UK’s “fraying relationship” with the European Union, says David Chadwick.

The Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP was speaking in Westminster Hall debate this week on an e-petition relating to the UK joining the European Union.

The petition calls for the UK to join the European Union as a full member as soon as possible.

Mr Chadwick said that “falling out with our neighbours” is particularly self-defeating during this “fracturing era of global politics” and Wales is paying a particularly heavy price for that fraying relationship.

He said: “We are a nation of manufacturers, small businesses and farmers, and those three sectors have been throttled by red tape, hindering our trade with the European Union.

“In my constituency, a small local business in Radnorshire that makes parts for classic motorcycles is heavily reliant on EU trade.

“Yet over Christmas, with no warning from the Department for Business and Trade, it was told that it was now incompatible with EU directives.

“That is just one example of how Brexit-related bureaucracy is harming businesses and damaging trade with our neighbours.

“Farmers and the food and drink industry across Wales are also waiting for the long-promised UK veterinary agreement.”

Mr Chadwick said studies show that such an agreement could boost UK agrifood exports to the EU by at least 22 per cent, providing a vital boost to rural areas such as mine.

He told MPs: “However, we have still received no timeline from the current Labour Government on when that is likely to happen.”

Mr Chadwick said the EU was a “pragmatic project” but also an “idealist one” at its core.

“It is a project grounded in ideals, and in the idea that the nations of central Europe should never go to war again. It succeeded in that mission, making it one of the most successful political projects ever in mankind’s history.”

“When we are making the argument for rejoining the European Union, let us use the language of idealism, not just rationalism,” he said.

“Unless we build a case for the UK to rejoin the EU based on idealist language and get people to buy into the ideals on which the European Union was founded, we will not have long-term buy-in to the project among the people we need to convince.”

The petition refers to the potential benefits of the UK joining the EU to boost the UK economy, increase its global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability and freedom.

The government responded to the petition on November 19 2024. It said that it had been elected on a manifesto that made clear “there will be no return to EU membership”. However, it said it was “determined to reset the UK-EU relationship” and put it on a more solid footing.

Further details on the UK government’s “reset” with the EU, including the objectives it has set out, the EU reaction and commentary on proposals are provided in this House of Commons Library briefing paper.