Thank you for contacting me about leaving the EU.

I have always respected the result of the 2016 referendum and have always wanted to leave the European Union with a deal. I consistently voted to support the Withdrawal Agreement and continue to support the Government as it negotiates a new Free Trade Agreement with our European friends and partners.

In any negotiation, you need to be able to walk away when the other side is making unreasonable demands. The UK negotiating team is working hard with the EU to see if it is possible to bridge the remaining gaps in our positions.

The UK was always due to leave the single market and customs union at the end of the year and so there is no change in this regard. Businesses would always have been required to prepare for this scenario. I would encourage you to visit the following website for the most up to date information: www.gov.uk/transitionM.

Just as I voted to ratify the “oven ready” withdrawal agreement, I stand ready to vote for a comprehensive free trade agreement, that covers other important areas such as security, fishing, data and financial services.