It is my duty to put Brexit before my own career in Government

Politics, they say, is the language of priorities. I once told a Government whip that Brexit was far more important to me than my job, or even theirs: this was our country’s future and we need to get it right. I stand by that comment, and it is ultimately why I have decided to stand down from my role as parliamentary private secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government so I can concentrate on my work for the Commons Brexit committee.

Brexit means a lot to me. In

2015 I ran enthusiastically on the Conservative promise to hold the EU referendum. In 2017 I was the only local candidate who voted to Leave. So it was natural I would join the Brexit committee at its foundation. But I am now alarmed by its composition and behaviour.

In its early days, the excellent MP Kate Hoey ran to be chair. As a rare Labour Brexiteer, she would have been the perfect candidate. Alas, the Remainer majority instead chose one of their own. Today, out of 21 members of the Brexit committee, only seven voted to Leave; of those, six are Tories, and not one is from Labour or the SNP.

This imbalance leaves the rest of us at a huge disadvantage. It is no surprise that hearings and reports are so often weighted against Brexit. We Brexiteers have actually been forced to produce minority reports simply to make our voices heard.

Nearly 13.7 million people voted for the Conservatives in the 2017 election, and 12.8 million voted for Labour. But the 17.4 million who voted for the EU outweigh either of these. Brexit, clearly, is more important than any one party – even mine. Yet some of my colleagues are committed to reversing this huge democratic decision. We are the ones who entrusted the referendum to the British people; we chose to give them a say. Refusing to honour the result is hugely frustrating, and goes directly against our duty as representatives.

In particular, many on the committee seem intent on keeping Britain inside the customs union. It is essential to our future that this does not happen. Theresa May has said it won’t, and she has my full support. I believe she will stick to her pledge – prime ministers keep their jobs when they keep their promises. But she will need allies robustly defending the referendum decision wherever it is in danger.

We need to stop being apologetic about Brexit and talk up the benefits it offers for our great country’s future. I truly want to see Britain championing free trade and becoming the global economic powerhouse of tomorrow. Right now, I can better serve this purpose outside Government than inside it.

Standing down was a difficult decision for me, but this is something that I have to do. I have an obligation to my constituents and the 17.4 million people who voted to take back control. I intend to fulfil it.