Labour leadership bidder Morgan hopes Brexit does not happen

Welsh Labour leadership candidate Eluned Morgan has said she "really still hopes" Brexit does not happen.

Launching her campaign, in the south Wales valleys, she warned of the "devastation that could be wrought on Wales if we do leave" the EU.

As first minister, she said she would campaign to stay in the European Union, if there was another referendum.

She defended her record on the Welsh language, after issuing an English-only press release about her launch.

Ms Morgan, a former MEP and AM since 2016, is the Welsh language minister in Carwyn Jones's government.

She told Post Cyntaf on BBC Radio Cymru that "no-one else in the Labour Party has shown so much enthusiasm or put so much emphasis on the Welsh language as me over the years".

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Her time in the European Parliament had given her international contacts that would be useful as leader, she said.

"If Brexit happens - and I really still hope it doesn't happen - someone with connections across the continent will ensure we don't turn into an introverted country," she said.

Later she went further, at her launch event in Tonypandy, in the Rhondda seat Labour lost to Plaid Cymru at the 2016 assembly election.

"I think it's important for us the recognise the devastation that could be wrought on Wales if we do leave the European Union," she told BBC Wales.

"I think that people will understand that there have been a lot of lies told, in terms of what Brexit can offer, that's why I'm supportive of a People's Vote.

"I think people need a second chance to really consider whether they made that right decision."

Eluned Morgan launched her campaign in Rhondda, an assembly seat Labour lost to Plaid

Her rival Vaughan Gething is also supporting the People's Vote campaign in favour of another referendum.

The other candidate, Mark Drakeford, has said the option of a second referendum should be kept alive if the final Brexit deal negotiated between the UK government and the EU does not protect workers' rights.

Mr Drakeford - the finance secretary and the frontrunner in the race to succeed Carwyn Jones in December - has been the minister in charge of much of the Welsh Government's approach towards Brexit.

At its conference in Liverpool last month, Labour agreed that a referendum should remain an option if there is no general election, but senior party figures have taken differing stances on whether such a referendum should include an option to remain in the EU.

Both Mr Vaughan Gething and Mr Drakeford launched their campaigns earlier this week.

Ms Morgan entered the contest with the help of First Minister Carwyn Jones, who offered his support in order to get a woman on the Welsh Labour ballot.

He intends to resign on 11 December following his final First Minister's Questions, with his successor in place the following day.