‘We need a clean break from the EU’

THE Prime Minister has now presented her Brexit deal to MPS and the public and has embarked on a nationwide tour to sell her deal to the country.

Whilst you cannot fault the Prime Minister’s tireless efforts to secure a deal with the EU, it is simply not what the British people voted for back in June 2016.

She sought to heal the divisions from the referendum campaign and to honour the wishes of the British people with her vision outlined in the 2017 Conservative Party manifesto.

This committed us to a proper Brexit where we leave the Single Market, Customs Union and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

Sadly, the Withdrawal Agreement far from delivers that Brexit and does not demonstrate an equal partnership on trade, mutual co-operation and respect. It is a one-sided deal weighted heavily in favour of the EU and betrays the very concept of democracy.

The deal is not in our longterm national interest and no unionist can support it.

The proposed backstop would threaten the integrity of the United Kingdom. We would fall into a never ending customs union and Northern Ireland would be separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

One of the other big issues is that the agreement would bind the UK into a ‘single customs territory’ – a customs union in all but name – which would force us to abide by EU tariffs. We would therefore be very restricted in our ability to strike new trade deals around the EU.

Under this deal, we will be rule takers, not rule makers. The European Court of Justice will still continue to undermine our democracy and have supremacy over ourn laws. We are paying £39 billion for all this without even a trade deal with the EU.

Increasing numbers of MPS are putting country before career and are set to vote against the Prime Minister’s deal on December 11.

The British people voted to take back control of our money, laws and borders and for us to become a sovereign, global free-trading nation.

Under this deal, we don’t take back control, we give back control.

We must deliver a clean Brexit that ensures a decisive break from the EU. That’s what the people of North Staffordshire voted for. CLLR JOE PORTER FORMER VOTE LEAVE CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR FOR NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE