We need exit deal that works with Europe

THE Prime Minister’s self-imposed deadline to secure a trade deal with Europe has come and gone.

We were all promised a comprehensive deal with Europe – I believe there is still time to deliver that promise.

As the second wave of Covid begins, it has never been more crucial to reach a recovery-boosting deal with Europe.

Polling by Best For Britain shows over three quarters (78 per cent) of people in Yorkshire and the Humber region have already noticed job losses and business closures in their community – something I’ve seen as well.

A recent report by the same organisation shows countless professions, products and industries, not to mention the services that cities like Leeds are renowned for, will be severely impacted from day one of a no-deal exit.

To leave the transition period with no plan and no deal would be disastrous in this climate.

Last week also saw the passing of the Agricultural Bill, without the amendments intended to protect our food standards and our farmers. It was a stark reminder that the best guarantee of our high standards is to trade with an ally who shares them.

To leave Europe without a plan in place would compound the already vulnerable position of Yorkshire farmers.

This is not an abstract matter of diplomacy and trade – our lives and our livelihoods are on the line.

Let’s pursue a recovery-boosting deal, one that lets us work with Europe to recover from Covid