Brexit is an act of supreme economic sense and will make us a worldwide force for good

The vote to leave the EU last year was the moment when the British people embraced a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take our country in a new and better direction. So as we legislate to leave the EU, now is our opportunity to take control of our destiny and reclaim the autonomy we need for future success. But to make the most of this opportunity, we need to ensure that we are fit to compete and that means being ready to capitalise on our newfound ability to reclaim our political and economic freedoms.

It also means putting the divisions of the referendum behind us and coming together to realise the full potential of what Britain can now become.

Being positive, bold and dynamic, with a clear plan for a clear vision of a successful country and economy – an approach I hope will underpin this week’s Budget. Embracing the freedom that Brexit gives us the choice of what sort of country we want to become means we can look forward to a more positive tomorrow. That freedom allows us to give our children the best possible future with stronger access to the major economies of tomorrow.

The next century will be the global century. The countries that succeed will be those that are nimble and able to use their human capital to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. With our educated workforce, our language as the international language of commerce, we are ideally geographically located to prepare for success. Following Brexit, we will have the tools at our disposal to take advantage of these attributes, and to benefit from the new opportunities that are emerging around the world.

What could be better for our children and the next generation than to show them that Britain is an outward-looking force for good in the world, helping countries trade out of poverty and breaking down the barriers that hold back innovation? Driven by our belief in free markets, enterprise and capitalism, we can break down barriers to trade and open the world up to a better future. Successful businesses change and adapt according to the realities of the day. The reality of today is that the EU is not the future, and so we must change and adapt accordingly.

Analysts may be more confident about the Eurozone’s prospects than they were a year ago, but it would be a mistake to dismiss its underlying, fundamental, economic flaws. The IMF warned this year that the Eurozone “still faces the hurdles of high public debt … a lack of convergence in income levels among countries, and the need to reduce imbalances that built up before the crisis”. Just look at the Eurozone’s abject failure to restore Greece’s competitiveness. Greece (ranked 87th in economic competitiveness), now languishes behind Ukraine (81), Bhutan (82) and Algeria (86). Systemic risk remains inherent within the EU’s economic model. On top of this, the EU’s economy – which accounted for 34per cent of world GDP in 1980 – will only account for 20per cent by 2030.

Seen in this light, and away from the passion and emotion of the wider debate, Brexit is an act of supreme economic sense. It will catalyse economic growth by adapting to the future faster than other countries, of seeing the potential of rising middle classes in India and China, and moving to establish new free trade deals with the major economies of tomorrow.

Other countries are being held back by the EU’s protectionist policies blocking access to markets. Leaving means we can unlock the potential of our country, our young people and our friends across the world.

The benefits of Brexit extend beyond trade. Freed from the constraints of EU red tape, and the corrosive “precautionary principle” that strangles innovation at birth, we will be well placed to develop tomorrow’s markets.

From world-leading AI companies to sophisticated quantum computing laboratories, the UK is uniquely well placed to, once again, be at the forefront of the next industrial and technological revolution.

The opportunity is there for Britain to enjoy a new era of prosperity, but we must be strong enough and brave enough to grasp it. That means taking the tough decisions that we have shirked for too long. But with political will and vision, the next chapter we write in our history will be a proud one.

‘Leaving means we can unlock the potential of our country, our young people and our friends across the world’