IN JULY, people in Wales voted to leave the EU. I had campaigned to remain, but the public have had their say, and we must respect the result. It is now my job as a politician to fight for Wales to have the best possible settlement.

Brexit poses both opportunities and challenges for the future of our nation. In the run up to the referendum we were promised that Wales would not lose a single penny of the EU funding that has hugely benefited the South East. Already we’ve seen the pledge to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds extra to the NHS abandoned, we cannot allow Brexit to mean that Wales takes a massive economic hit.

The referendum campaign divided communities, but in order to make Brexit a success we will need to come together to demand a solution that does not damage Wales’ economy or our public services. It is therefore deeply saddening that the rates of reported hate crimes in Gwent have rocketed by 67 per cent since the vote, the second highest increase in the UK. The communities of the South East have benefitted hugely from people from all over the world choosing to move here to work in our businesses, hospitals and GPs surgeries. People born outside of Wales are our neighbours, colleagues, friends and family. No one should be intimidated or attacked because of their nationality or race.

Of course, the vast majority of people in the region are kind, welcoming and tolerant, and that is true whichever way they voted in the referendum. But in the aftermath of the vote, a tiny minority have felt able to act on their prejudices. The rest of the community must come together to show that that is not acceptable.

What is most important is holding those responsible for negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU to account so that, as promised, Wales does not lose out. Attempts to divide us by blaming minority groups and accepting intolerance will only hurt us in the long run.