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Ukip wants to build a new motorway - and get the EU to pay for it

David Rowlands and Ukip fought for Britain to leave the EU

Samuel Osborne
Wednesday 30 November 2016 09:15 GMT
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UKIP wants the Irish government to help pay for a motorway in Wales with EU funds

A Ukip politician has asked if Ireland could use EU funds to pay for a motorway in Wales.

David Rowlands, one of seven Ukip MPs in the Welsh National Assembly, asked the Welsh first minister to "explore the possibility" part of the costs of improving the M4 could be paid by the Irish government.

He said "three quarters of all Irish exports to the EU and the UK pass along that road".

His question was met with jeers, TheJournal.ie reports.

Mr Rowlands went on to suggest improvements to the M4 motorway, which runs between the main cities of Wales and the rest of the UK, could be paid for with cash from the EU's Trans-European highways fund.

First Minister Carwin Jones said it was for the Welsh government to maintain the country's main roads and motorways.

Mr Jones said Mr Rowlands could not ask another EU member state "to make up the shortfall that he himself campaigned to engineer in the first place".

Mr Rowlands and Ukip fought a successful campaign to encourage Britain to leave the EU in the run up to June's referendum.

Paul Nuttall: Who is Ukip's new leader?

On Tuesday, Ukip announced Paul Nuttalll would take over as leader from Nigel Farage.

The MEP for North-West England won 62.6 per cent of votes cast by members, an overwhelming margin over rivals Suzanne Evans and John Rees-Evans.

Mr Nuttall has strong right-wing views on crime, opposes abortion and suggested a referendum on the reintroduction of the death penalty for child killers.

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