The Prime Minister needs to understand that her Agreement cannot pass the Commons. All the Opposition parties oppose it. The DUP hate it. Around 100 Conservative MPs have stated in public they do not agree with it.

A substantial number of those MPs might change their vote on the Agreement if the Northern Ireland backstop were removed completely, or if there was an unambiguous and straightforward way for the UK to end it unilaterally once imposed. Whilst the vote on  the Agreement would then be narrower, there would still be a substantial group of Conservative MPs who would oppose the Agreement for wider reasons often set out here.  The Prime Minister ignores these other problems – the large sum of money committed for nothing, the indeterminate period left in the customs union, the vulnerability of our economy to new laws and regulations that could hurt us – all summed up as the opposite of the Leave we voted for.  She assumes she could get practically every DUP and Conservative MP to change their minds.

She also assumed in the Confidence Vote meeting that  the EU will offer some legally binding text which does scupper the Backstop. That looks extremely unlikely, given the stance of the EU so far. If we assume they are not bluffing when they say they will not re open the Withdrawal Agreement text it is difficult to see any reassurance or political declaration about the Backstop persuading the DUP and other critics, as what matters is the law as written rather than statements of how a future EU might behave. One of the problems with that is the imminent European Parliament elections and a new Commission, so what is the value of any promises by the current set up?

I have the following questions for the PM

What legal text have you tabled to remove the Backstop? Will you share it with us as we might agree with it?

What indications if any are there that the EU will moderate its stance and resume talks about legal change to the Backstop part of the Agreement?

If there is no new text and no prospect of talks to change this draft law, how do you envisage getting the DUP back on board to support the government?

If the DUP remain largely detached, how can the government proceed with its wider programme of work?

What action if any are you taking to deal with the other large  problems with the Agreement as around 400 MPs see it?

If there are  no good answers to these questions, then the PM should come to the Commons and announce that unf0rtunately the Agreement cannot be fixed so she is withdrawing it. She should then return to the EU and discuss the best way to proceed to exit, with accelerated work on the various agreements it would be nice to have to make it easier for both sides.  She should finally get round to tabling a Canada style free trade agreement and set out again how the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border can be handled much as now. This present currency, Excise, VAT and anti terrorist border could also be a customs and regulatory border, with most of the checks done well away from the border and the information shared electronically in advance of the border crossing. Managed exit without a Withdrawal Agreement is what most Leave voters want, given the penal and one sided nature of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness, has welcomed the Government’s recent announcement of funding increases for the police and local councils.

In plans announced on 13^th December, funding for the police nationally will increase by £970 million next year, the biggest increase since 2010, while national funding for councils will rise by £1.3 billion, bringing the level of local government funding to more than £200 billion in the five years to 2020. The increases will allow police services to be protected and improved, and also help councils deliver the services residents need while protecting them from unfair hikes in their council tax bills.

Locally, funding for Lincolnshire Police could increase by up to £9 million in 2019/20, up 7.5 per cent, and funding for Lincolnshire County Council will rise by £19 million, up 3.9 per cent in cash terms.

As part of the police funding settlement, the Home Office also committed to fighting serious and organised crime, including economic crime and drug trafficking, with a £90 million investment in national, regional and local capabilities. The settlement also sees £175 million going into the Police Transformation Fund, which includes investment for innovative new crime prevention techniques and a new national welfare service for front line officers, and £495 million for national police technology capabilities.

The Government is also giving councils £650 million for social care next year – building on the £240 million announced to relieve winter pressures on the NHS, £420 million to tackle potholes and £84 million more for children’s social care. This is in addition to increasing business rates retention to 75 per cent from 2020, to give councils even more incentive to grow the local economy so both Boston Borough and East Lindsey District Councils keep more of the revenue raised locally to spend on local services for residents.

Matt commented, “I am delighted with the announcement of extra funding for 2019/20 for our police and local government. The increases of £9 million for Lincolnshire Police and £19 million for Lincolnshire County Council will help to protect and improve services for local residents. This is part of the Government’s balanced approach to the economy – spending on key public services while keeping taxes down and getting debt falling.

The settlement also gives local authorities more control over the money they raise, while protecting residents against excessive council tax rises. I will continue to ensure that the core Conservative values of law and order and localism remain central to government policy, and that Lincolnshire receives its fair share of public funding.”

Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, also welcomed the police funding settlement, saying, “The Government’s announcement of the provisional policing funding settlement is a significant step in delivering sustainable funding for Lincolnshire Police. It is heartening that through the efforts of my team and local MPs we, along with our counterparts elsewhere in the country, have made a persuasive case for additional funding to tackle the growing demands and increasing complexity of policing.”

• More information on the police funding settlement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/police-to-get-largest-funding-increase-since-2010
• More information on the local government finance settlement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-2019-to-2020-statement
• The full statement from Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commission, Marc Jones, can be found here: https://lincolnshire-pcc.gov.uk/news-archive/2018/pcc-marc-jones-provides-a-statement-about-provisonal-police-funding-settlement/

East Yorkshire MP Sir Greg Knight was one of sixty-five MPs and peers who joined Cats Protection at its annual Christmas Parliamentary Reception to celebrate the charity’s campaigning work.

The event, held in the Palace of Westminster, was to highlight the work of the charity in helping improve the lives of cats and their owners.

Politicians were able to find out more about the charity’s work in calling for the licensing of air guns in England and Wales to prevent cats being the victims of shootings.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat charity, helping around 200,000 cats every year through a network of over 250 voluntary-run branches and 36 centres.

The charity’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “Cats are much-loved pets for millions of people in the UK, so we were pleased to welcome Sir Greg and other politicians who were keen to find out how we’re helping improve the lives of cats.

Sir Greg said that he was backing the charity’s call to make it illegal to own an airgun without a licence.

Speaking in the House of Commons after the event Sir Greg said: “In 2016, 202 cats in the UK were reported as being shot with an airgun. 90% of these attacks were in England and Wales where it is possible to own an airgun without a licence unlike Northern Ireland where the incidence of cat shooting is much lower”.

The MP also praised the work of the charity.

A considerable number of my constituents in Sutton have been in touch with me regarding the proposals for the borough-wide Controlled Parking Zone which Sutton Council are consulting on. The important date is 16th December when this closes so it is vital if you haven’t expressed your view you do so before then via the link below:

https://sutton.citizenspace.com/chief-executives-group/parking-consultation-stage-2/

Sutton has a very high level of car ownership, due in part to us being an outer London borough which doesn’t have the high levels of public transport like an area closer to London would have and this policy has the potential to significantly affect the way many people in this borough go about their day-to-day lives whether it be commuting to work, getting their children to school or going out to the shops.

This type of scheme has been pushed by the council before in the Wallington area around the station when I was a councillor before becoming an MP. I campaigned against it as a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It gained a significant amount of opposition from residents to be ultimately rejected. I have concerns about the way this particular scheme is being rolled out in terms of the lack of consultation that I’ve heard about from those who’ve contacted me and also concern about whether the number of permits and their price will change from what is initially offered. Whilst the aim of reducing overall emissions in the borough from vehicles is a noble one, I’m sceptical that using a CPZ to do this will alleviate the problem and cause further problems to residents that use car regularly, particularly if they use a car as part of their business. The Council seem to be wanting to charge residents for their parked cars which clearly won’t be emitting anything, thus encouraging them to drive during the day.

I do appreciate that there are some areas mentioned in this group which appear to need some form of parking control, however there are plenty of other areas across the borough, particularly in the Sutton West and South wards, that do not need a controlled parking zone at all, there isn’t a strong case for it happening and it’s therefore crucial that if you oppose this happening to register your view.

I’ll be working closely with the councillors in those wards such as Cllr Lily Bande, Cllr Catherine Gray as well as Cllrs Tony Shields and Tim Crowley who have been in turn working with residents such as Sandra Ackland to raise awareness of what is going on and for as many views to be inputted as possible and I’ll continue to take on board what’s been fed back to me from residents in Sutton.

Rail travellers in Welwyn Hatfield will finally be able to use Oyster and contactless payment cards for journeys to and from London.

The announcement was made by the Department for Transport after several years of campaigning to expand easy payments into parts of Hertfordshire.

MP Grant Shapps, who has battled for the move for a number of years, said: “It is fantastic to finally see Welwyn Hatfield included in the Oyster zones.”

Barriers at stations along the line will soon start to be changed to accept pay-as-you-go cards. Implementation is set to begin in the second half of 2019.

The expansion of Oyster will make train travel “so much easier for residents commuting into London as well as those travelling north to Luton,” said Mr Shapps.

“Although this is a move in the right direction, train services to and from Welwyn Hatfield still have a long way to go in improvements.

“The success in this campaign won’t stop me from continuing to push for more reliable and more frequent trains to the area.”

Stations which will accept Oyster and other contactless cardsinclude Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park and PottersBar.

Today, I visited Walton Community Hospital, part of Central Surrey Health (CSH), a social enterprise that provides a variety of health and care services in the community.

Walton Community Hospital has 38 beds meaning it is able to care for patients, most of whom are elderly and have been referred from their GP or hospital (mostly St. Peter’s Hospital). The Hospital also serves as a‘hub’, providing social care, mental health services and physiotherapy. From Walton Hospital, Nurses and mental health practitioners from CSH Surrey also go out into the community to provide support in patients’ homes. As well as caring for patients in the community, this helps ease NHS pressures at the larger hospitals.

My thanks to Bill Caplan, Chair and Sarah Tomkins, Operations Director, for inviting me. You can read more about CSH Surrey here. 

Jonathan Djanolgy writes to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government seeking explanation for Huntingdonshire Local Government Funding Settlement that amounts to a reduction in core spending power of 4%.

Letter to James Brokenshire MP

New legislation, powers and tools to tackle corruption in the UK have been heralded in a new report, which comes just days after an international watchdog gave the UK top marks for its response to dirty money.

Among the achievements across the past 12 months listed in a cross-government review of the Anti-Corruption Strategy was the Criminal Finances Act – which saw the first use of new powers. The new national economic crime centre and a central government network to reduce the risks of bribery and corruption are also highlighted as commitments fulfilled this year.

According to the assessment of the strategy, which aims to support national security, prosperity at home and abroad and public confidence in our institutions, nearly all the commitments due this year have been met while laying the foundation for the rest.

Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime, said:

Corruption and economic crime undermine our economy, damage our international reputation and have a corrosive effect on individuals and communities. This report shows our determination to tackle these threats and that the UK remains in the vanguard of international efforts to tackle corruption. I am delighted with the progress made.

As part of the strategy, which was published last December, the government has brought the Criminal Finances Act into force, including additional powers for law enforcement agencies to identify and recover corrupt and criminal funds. The act introduced unexplained wealth orders, which can be used to compel individuals to explain the sources of their wealth. The first UWOs have been issued relating to assets of £22 million.

The new National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), housed within the National Crime Agency, fulfils another Strategy commitment. Additionally, the UK is strengthening its framework for combatting corruption by evaluating our systems through international reviews including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global standard setter for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. According to a Mutual Evaluation Report published by FATF on 7 December, the UK is world-leading in the fight against illicit finance.

A further action taken since the Strategy was published is the launch of a new government Counter-Fraud Profession. This is a professional network of more than 3,000 civil servants who specialise in tackling fraud, bribery and corruption. It allows them to access training and share their expertise in order to enhance the quality of their risk assessments and investigations.

In addition, last month the government launched the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, which includes an investment of at least £48 million over the next 18 months for a package of capabilities to tackle economic crime and illicit finance.

Individual government departments are responsible for implementing specific actions from the Strategy and these are overseen by the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion, John Penrose MP. In Copenhagen in October he launched a campaign to make it harder for criminals to hide the proceeds of corruption and crime behind complex corporate structures by increasing transparency of the ownership of companies and other entities.

Mr Penrose said:

Tackling corruption at home and abroad doesn’t just keep us all safe; it means our economy grows faster, creates a level playing field for our exporters and shows the world that post-Brexit Britain will always be a fair and trusted trading partner.

This is the first annual progress update on the government’s Anti-Corruption Strategy. Together with last week’s FATF report, which gave Britain a top-notch international anti-corruption ranking, it shows we’re steadily making the UK a tougher place for criminals and the corrupt.

The government’s 6 priorities under the Strategy are:

• reducing the insider threat in high risk domestic sectors such as borders and ports
• reducing corruption in public procurement and grants
• promoting integrity across the public and private sectors
• strengthening the integrity of the UK as an international financial centre
• improving the business environment globally
• working with other countries to combat corruption

Of the 134 commitments in the Strategy, 30 contained elements due for completion by the end of 2018. Of these, 26 have been completed and 2 have been partially completed. Work has begun on the remaining 2 elements and is on track to be completed by next year, according to the report.

Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, paid a visit to the Royal Mail delivery office in Bexleyheath this morning to see first-hand the operation of delivering Christmas post, and to pass on his Christmas wishes to the postmen and women at their busiest time of year.

Unsurprisingly Brexit and our future relationship with the European Union continue to dominate the political debate in Westminster, and many of you have been in touch with me about what is without doubt one of the biggest, if not the biggest, political issue of recent times.

As I am writing this article the Prime Minister is engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with European Heads of Government to seek greater reassurance for Parliamentarians on the question of the Northern Ireland “backstop”. We await further news of these talks.

The vast majority of us accept the outcome of the referendum and want to leave the EU with a deal. As such Parliament has a responsibility to discharge its duty and if we will the ends, we must also will the means.

Closer to home and last week we saw the welcome announcement from Government of £36 million towards a new Emergency Department at Walsall Manor Hospital. This will benefit residents right across the Borough, including here in Streetly. It was secured thanks to Chief Executive Richard Beeken and his team of hard working staff at The Manor, and a funding bid to which I was very pleased to be able to add my support. This local funding announcement is part of a much bigger £1 billion funding stream for healthcare facilities across England, and is a clear demonstration of the Government’s strong commitment to our NHS.

With so many small businesses forming the backbone of our local economy I was pleased to once again be able to support this year’s Small Business Saturday. My day began on Boundary Road with a visit, and an amazing breakfast at The Brew House, where I was able to hear first-hand from Jane Oakes on how she was rising to the challenges and opportunities of starting a new business. I know from my own experience how challenging the first few months can be for any new business and I will continue to work to ensure our businesses receive the right support from Government. By shopping local we can all support our local High Streets and retail areas and the businesses we have on our doorstep.

And now to Christmas! The recent Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Parish Church once again saw inspirational designs and wonderful decorations from many of our local businesses, churches, voluntary groups and schools. Our thanks should go to them all for participating and to Reverend Mandy Walker and her team for putting on this excellent community event.

As this will be my final column before Christmas I would like to take this opportunity to pause for a moment and reflect: to remember those who are elderly, unwell or alone at Christmas, and those less fortunate than ourselves: to acknowledge the service and dedication of our Armed Forces those who work around the clock in life-saving healthcare, policing, fire and rescue, and emergency services for us all. It has been once again a privilege to be your Member of Parliament throughout 2018. Let me wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

This article was first published in the Sutton Observer on 14 December 2018.

Yesterday evening the Prime Minister won a vote of confidence from her Conservative Members of Parliament. I did not think that this was the right time to have a vote and did not submit a letter calling for one, however I felt I could not support the Prime Minister on this occasion.   I want [...]

The post Royston Smith Statement on Vote of Confidence in Theresa May appeared first on Royston Smith - At the heart of Southampton.

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart has written to Local Government Minister Jake Berry MP and Business Minister Lord Henley in support of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s (ERYC) application to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This application was made after ERYC’s application to the Coastal Communities Fund was unsuccessful. 

ERYC has applied to the ERDF for funding so that the rock armour defences to the south of Withernsea can be extended in order to prevent further coastal erosion and protect homes, businesses and key infrastructure. 

Graham commented: “I was disappointed by the recent news that ERYC’s application to the Coastal Communities Fund for this vital funding had been unsuccessful. 

“I had been working with South East Holderness Ward Councillors and ERYC officials to obtain the funding through that process and am frustrated that Withernsea wasn’t taken forward to the next stage of the application. However, we are by no means giving up. 

“ERYC has now applied to the European Regional Development Fund for the £5 million it needs to extend the rock armour defences to the south of Withernsea by 400m. I appreciate some people may be confused that we are still able to apply for European development funding, but we are allowed to do so as the money for this fund was allocated years ago.

“To support ERYC’s application I have written to the Ministers responsible for allocating the ERDF money, Jake Berry MP, Minister for Local Government and Lord Henley, Minister for Local Growth. 

“In my letters I argue that Withernsea should receive this funding as the ERDF earmarks areas for special treatment which are naturally disadvantaged by their rurality, and distance from other amenities or settlements. 

“I concluded the letter by urging the Ministers to do everything they can to obtain a positive funding decision and help Withernsea obtain the money it needs to protect peoples’ homes and livelihoods. 

“As we head into 2019 I am committed to obtaining this money for Withernsea. Together with South East Holderness Ward Councillors, we will explore every avenue possible until we secure the necessary funding to prevent further coastal erosion in Withernsea. 

• Pictured: Graham Stuart MP and Local Government Minister Jake Berry MP
• Pictures are credited to Terry Bearpark of the Holderness Gazette

The weeks leading to Christmas are a time of general celebration and joy. But as the nights grow colder it is vital not to forget the most vulnerable people in society, and especially homeless people and rough sleepers.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today repeated her support for Prime Minister Theresa May following the news that Conservative MPs have called for a vote of confidence in her leadership. read more »

"The no confidence vote in the Prime Minister will be held this evening in Westminster.  The Prime Minister needs the support of 158 MPs, and if she succeeds with that, she cannot be challenged for another 12 months.  I will take some time today to think about how to vote.  I will respect the secret ballot process and I  will therefore not be discussing which way I will vote once I have reached my decision.

Local MP Maria Miller called in at the Basingstoke Jobcentre Plus offices to have a further update on the roll out of Universal Credit in Basingstoke.
 
Universal Credit is a major reform of the benefits system, and is being rolled out in different phases across the country. It has just started to be rolled out in Basingstoke, initially for new benefit claimants and existing claimants where their circumstances have changed.
 

Last week saw the results of the inaugural Welsh Youth Parliament election announced.  What is the Welsh Youth Parliament you might ask?  Well, as the name suggests, it is a body of sixty 11-18 year olds who can debate issues affecting young people and raise them directly with the Welsh Assembly.  Much like the Welsh Assembly, there are forty constituency Youth Parliament members, with an additional twenty nominated by “partner organisations”.

Westminster Week

I have received a huge numbers of e mails and letters arguing for both sides of the debate – a lot with anguish but also many with bitterness and vehemence that I have not encountered in politics before.  That worries me a lot.  Passions are greatly inflamed as a direct result of the 2016 Referendum which was to leave the European Union.   

Last week I wrote my article on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal – as a Member of Parliament I make every decision with you and our country in mind. 

In 2016 I voted remain, which was not an easy decision for a Eurosceptic that does not believe in free movement. As I said at the time I was concerned about the gamble and ensuring that no one was worse off.

The result was clear though and people voted to take the risk – so now we must leave.

Leaving the EU does offer some fantastic opportunities and it is important that we continue to talk up our country and ensure we seize these opportunities. So once again I want to confirm my commitment to deliver Brexit.

Attending local Christmas events has proved a bit of light relief from Brexit. I enjoyed cutting the ribbon to officially open the Elizabeth Rose Giving Tree in Bradford on Avon this year. Well done to 3rd Bradford on Avon Guides and Rangers Unit who beautifully decorated the Elizabeth Rose Giving Tree, which will serve as a collection point for Bath Cats and Dogs Home, Julian House and The Hub.

The entire town looks magical with lights and Christmas decorations – picture perfect.

Another amazing event was the Melksham Christmas light switch on. Melksham’s lights are always so impressive and this year is no exception. Well done to everyone involved! I was so delighted to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas from the stage and see the full strength of community spirit.

The other week I also enjoyed the light switch on at the Toast Office in Whitley, which was special because virtually all the village came along to see the lights and spread some Christmas cheer.

The fundraiser I organised for Wiltshire Air Ambulance at The Raj Chippenham proved a great success – thank you to everyone who came and supported our wonderful life-saving charity. We raised £1,650 and I know every penny will make a difference . If you were not able to attend but do want to support you can give here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michelle-donelanwaa and I am looking forward to attending the forthcoming official opening of the new base in Semington.

I have a number of advice surgeries coming up – if you would like an appointment to discuss a personal, local or national issue please email michelle.donelan.mp@parliament.uk or call 01249 704465.

I also have some opportunities to join my team – if you are interested please contact me to find out more.

The post Weekly Column 06.12.18 appeared first on Michelle Donelan MP.

As the Brexit debate reaches a climax I was one of a group of Kent MPs who visited the port authorities at Dover to receive a practical briefing on the implications of any disruption on the Dover- Calais crossing.

The figures are stark. At the ferry terminal alone there are 60 arrivals and departures a day. Twelve boats operate, and each one carries between 120 and 150 lorries. That’s about 10,000 trucks a day, with the peak flow of 500 trucks an hour.

I had a great time this weekend manning my mulled wine operation at Tuxford Christmas fair. It was good to here my constituents’ views ahead of a crucial few weeks in Parliament. I wish everyone in Newark a lovely Christmas!

After careful consideration and reflection, I cannot support the Government’s deal and as such, I have tended my resignation as Universities and Science Minister.

I will continue to work hard for East Surrey from the backbenches and push for a deal that is right for the whole country that will help us all prosper.

===

Here is a full statement and comment on why I made this decision now:

Galileo puts the lie to ‘best endeavours’ – Why I cannot back the Government’s Brexit proposal

The government is finally pulling out of frustrating negotiations over Galileo, the EU’s strategic Satellite Navigation system. The PM is right to call time on a negotiation that was stacked against us from the very beginning. But Galileo is only a foretaste of what’s to come under the Government’s Brexit deal.

Having surrendered our voice, our vote and our veto, we will have to rely on the ‘best endeavours’ of the EU to strike a final agreement that works in our national interest. As Minister with the responsibility for space technology I have seen first-hand the EU stack the deck against us time and time again, even while the ink was drying on the transition deal. Galileo is a clarion call that it will be ‘EU first’, and to think otherwise – whether you are a leaver or remainer – is at best incredibly naïve.

To be fair, the Government’s Brexit deal has been hard won. But at its heart, all the big decisions in the Political Declaration that will shape our future in Europe, and the world, are yet to be agreed. Where we set the balance between an independent trade policy and frictionless trade, high market access and freedom of movement, fisheries, agriculture, and the all-important Northern Ireland question are just some of the big issues still in play. It is a deal in name only. And we will be relying on the good faith of the EU to deliver the bespoke deal we have been led to expect.

There is a mountain to climb, and we are still in the foothills. Under the deal we will have only two, at most four, years to agree at least five times what has been settled to date. With so much left to negotiate, we must take a clear-eyed view on the strength of our position. So far, the EU has been able to set the timetable, the sequencing and the hurdles to be cleared at each stage of Brexit, limiting our room for manoeuvre. They have the luxury of time – we need to conclude a deal because the Northern Ireland backstop is our existential issue, not theirs. And the clock is ticking to the next General Election. All of this points to an off-the-shelf deal dictated by the EU that will be materially worse for my constituents in East Surrey than staying in.

In these protracted negotiations our interests will be repeatedly and permanently hammered by the EU27 for many years to come. Britain will end up worse off, transformed from rule makers into rule takers. At the end of these negotiations, Britain will not be standing side-by-side with our European partners as equals. Even in programmes where we have agreement, we will be outside the room when key decisions affecting our future and prosperity are made. It is a democratic deficit and a loss of sovereignty the public will rightly never accept.

These negotiations are as much about our future trading relationship with Europe as they are about our security, foreign policy and power and influence in the world. We are an island nation, and for the last 350 years have managed all aspects of our relationship with our immediate neighbours to meet our need to have a preeminent place in Europe. While we must be mindful of giving business the certainty they need, we must ensure the constitutional treaty we end up with stands the test of time.

So, what is being presented to the public as a sensible compromise Brexit deal, a 52/48 Brexit as some call it, will not bring closure or heal the divisions of Brexit. In the fullness of time, the public will wake up to what this so-called deal entails; neither leave nor remain voters will be pleased with a deal that leaves us poorer, less secure and weaker in the pursuit of our national interests.

What is the alternative, I hear people say? Sometimes it seems our horizons have been narrowed and our expectations lowered to the point where potentially crippling ourselves politically and economically for decades to come is seen as a success we should welcome.

There are alternatives that we have ruled out through our own red lines that need to be considered seriously. Even if this means extending the Article 50 deadline. The decision before us is irreversible, which is why an increasing number of MPs are demanding we explore the options from every angle. And we shouldn’t dismiss out of hand the idea of asking the people again what future they want, as we all now have a better understanding of the potential paths before us.

I voted remain, but at all times since the referendum I have endeavoured to reflect the fact that before we are remainers or leavers, we are British. The results in my constituency were in line with the national vote; over the last few weeks I have received hundreds of emails and phones calls from constituents on the deal, the overwhelming majority urging me to vote against it. It has become increasingly clear to me that the proposed deal is not in the British national interest, and that to vote for this deal is to set ourselves up for failure. We will be losing, not taking control of our national destiny.

It was therefore with deep regret that I have tendered my resignation as the Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Minister – certainly one of the best jobs in government. Innovation, scientific endeavour and our universities represent the best of Britain, underpin our economic fortunes and are central to our place in the world. It has been a pleasure and honour to serve these extraordinary communities.

The grit and determination demonstrated by the Prime Minister should be an inspiration to us all. I am saddened, as an early and vocal backer of her leadership, to have reached a cross-roads where I cannot support her on this crucial issue.

This website is discontinued. Please visit my new website: StephenMetcalfe.org.uk