THE interests of the people of Wales will be “front and centre” during the Welsh Government’s response to the Brexit vote, first minister Carwyn Jones has said.

The Welsh Government cabinet held an urgent meeting today, to discuss the result of last week’s referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union.

In a statement following the meeting the first minister, who backed the Remain campaign, said he and colleagues had discussed a number of issues including jobs, the NHS, immigration and foreign investment.

“Ministers agreed that the interests of Wales and its people would be front and centre in our strategy, in particular given the unprecedented political turmoil and the ongoing uncertainties stemming from it,” he said.

Mr Jones said the government would use “every lever at our disposal” to protect jobs, and was particularly concerned about the potential loss of the £500,000 a year currently invested into Welsh farming from the EU.

“During the referendum campaign the Leave side made cast iron promises that this money would continue to come to Wales in the event of a vote to leave the EU,” he said.

“I have today written to the Prime Minister asking him to confirm that every penny of this funding is safe.”

He said losing funding for the various EU-backed projects around Wales would be “devastating” and would “make the difficult decisions we already face even harder.

Mr Jones added a number of measures aimed at providing stability and certainty to the Welsh economy would be introduced in the coming days.

“We remain an outward looking, internationalist and pro-business government, and our commitment to a Welsh economy which delivers fairness and opportunity for all is undiminished,” he said.

The first minister also addressed what he called “the ugly atmosphere created by elements of the Leave campaign”, saying racism was “completely unacceptable in Welsh society”.

“Absolutely nothing has changed in the status of foreign nationals living and working in Wales,” he said.

“They remain welcome as they always have been – before devolution, before the EU.

“Wales has always been a welcoming country and we must not lose sight of that.

“It is incumbent on all of us, no matter how we voted last week, to stand up to anybody who thinks they now have licence to abuse people of different races or nationalities.”

Mr Jones also said the Welsh Government would form a dedicated team of civil servants based in Brussels to engage directly with the EU in Wales’ interested, independent of Westminster

“There are difficult days ahead, but as a government we will be decisive in our actions and transparent in our communications on this, the biggest issue facing our country for decades,” he said.

“The result announced in the early hours of Friday, and the political turmoil that has followed, has left many people feeling angry, anxious, and disoriented.

“Whether you voted to remain or to leave, the Welsh Government will do everything in its power to protect Welsh interests, strengthen our economy, and unify our nation.”