AS WELL as the fall in the pound, there are far too many unanswered questions four months on from the Brexit vote.

However you view the result and however you voted, I and my Labour colleagues believe that before the government begins any formal process, they must be clear with the British people about their broad plan on issues like jobs and immigration, whether workers’ rights, environmental protection and funding for regions and nations will be protected, how we’ll manage trade deals and relationships with EU members, and how Parliament, the people and the Welsh Government and other devolved administrations will be involved in the process.

As with a key debate in the Commons this week where I raised steel, universities, the environment, workers’ rights and certainty for business, over the crucial months ahead I’ll be working to hold the government to account, demand answers, and ensure the interests of communities like those in Penarth and Cardiff South are put first.

Last week, Labour held a Parliamentary debate demanding the government set out their plans before considering triggering Article 50 negotiations; and published 170 questions for them to answer, one for each day until Theresa May’s deadline to begin the process. (In response, the government agreed to set out plans before March 31 and allow Parliament and the public to scrutinise them properly - a shift in position after originally denying Parliament a voice.)

This is not intended to block any process, but to ensure we get debate and democracy on the best deal. And on one particular issue, the protection of regional funding - especially crucial for Wales – we’re also taking a lead.

UK regions were allocated €10.8bn from EU funding programmes for 2014-20 - more than €2.4bn of that for Wales - to support job creation, promote economic growth, build infrastructure and rejuvenate deprived areas.

The Tories have said that subject to conditions, the funding promised until 2020 will be maintained - but beyond 2020 they’ve said nothing. That’s not good enough. Without long-term certainty over funding, communities cannot plan ahead.

Labour has pledged that if in government, we’ll make up any shortfall in regional funding, ensuring levels are protected into the 2020s and beyond. Assuming the UK makes no net contributions to EU budgets after any Brexit, funding this commitment will be Labour’s first priority in terms of using the savings that result.

We believe communities who stand to lose most through Brexit must be looked after first.