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Economic Development

Brexit ‘freedom’ is bringing a freeport to Wales for the first time says Welsh Secretary

The Secretary of State for Wales said the government was using its freedom outside of the EU to bring the freeport to Wales

Robert Buckland, Secretary of State for Wales at the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham(Image: Getty Images)

The Government is using its Brexit “freedom” to “bring a freeport to Wales for the very first time”, Welsh Secretary Sir Robert Buckland has said.

Speaking to Conservative Party members at Birmingham's International Convention Centre (ICC), Mr Buckland said: "We are using our freedom outside of the EU to bring a freeport to Wales for the very first time."

On plans for a freeport, he said: "Backed by millions of pounds of º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Government funding, a freeport will bring renewed growth to Welsh communities and it’s why we’re helping families and firms directly with the energy price guarantee, so that no-one will go cold this winter. This is what taking back control can deliver for Wales."

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The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ has previously had freeports while within the European Union. Seven freeports were set up in Britain after 1984, including at Liverpool and Southampton, but were phased out in 2012.

Freeports are also allowed in the European Union, which has around 80 sites in EU countries.

Mr Buckland also told party members that “being a proud unionist doesn’t make anyone less Welsh and being proudly Welsh doesn’t make anyone less of a unionist. The two go hand in hand”.

He added: “We are all part of one United Kingdom with shared values and we are stronger together.”